Overview

Argus provides key insights on how global climate policies will affect the global energy and commodity markets. We shine a light on decisions made at UN Cop meetings, which have far-reaching effects on the markets we serve. Progress at Cop 30 in Brazil will be crucial in transforming ambitions into actions aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Countries must produce new climate plans this year.

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08/05/25

Last month was second-hottest April: EU's Copernicus

Last month was second-hottest April: EU's Copernicus

London, 8 May (Argus) — Last month was the second-hottest April on record globally, EU earth-monitoring service Copernicus said today. The global average surface air temperature in April was 14.96°C, 0.60°C higher than the 1991-2020 average for the month, Copernicus data show. The average temperature last month was 1.51°C above the estimated pre-industrial average, the organisation said. The Paris climate agreement seeks to limit the rise in global temperature to "well below" 2°C and preferably to 1.5°C, to avoid the worst effects of climate change. April 2025 was just 0.07°C cooler than April 2024, which was the hottest recorded , Copernicus found. It was the 21st month in the past 22 for which the global average surface air temperature exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, according to Copernicus data — though data from other agencies may not confirm this as the margins are relatively small. The organisations typically concur on the broader trends. A group of six weather and science agencies said in January that 2024 was the hottest on record . Sea surface temperatures "remained unusually high in many ocean basins and seas", while "large areas in the northeast North Atlantic" experienced record-high sea surface temperatures for the month. Arctic and Antarctic sea ice extent was below average, Copernicus found. Around 40 leaders and ministers are meeting this week in Copenhagen, Denmark for a climate ministerial. The discussions will set the direction for climate negotiations taking place this year, including UN-convened technical halfway point talks in June and the UN Cop 30 climate summit in November. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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UK, Norway pursue further ‘green industry’ co-operation


07/05/25
News
07/05/25

UK, Norway pursue further ‘green industry’ co-operation

London, 7 May (Argus) — The UK and Norway have signed an early-stage agreement for a "green industrial partnership", planning to work together on low-emissions technology such as offshore wind, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen. The partnership will "strengthen energy security" and "support robust value chains for raw materials", the Norwegian government said. The collaboration also aims to "support the development of renewable energy sources, and further develop existing cooperation on the protection of subsea infrastructure in the North Sea", Norway's government added. Both Norwegian and UK representatives are in attendance at the Copenhagen climate ministerial this week — an event which often sets the direction for climate negotiations this year. The countries in December flagged their intent to partner on the energy transition, including developing an agreement on cross-border CO2 transport. Norway is a leader in Europe's developing CCS sector. The country's flagship Northern Lights CCS project is due to begin operating this summer. The project's partnership this week confirmed that all required permits are in place for the injection and storage of CO2. By Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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New German climate minister stresses nature angle


07/05/25
News
07/05/25

New German climate minister stresses nature angle

Berlin, 7 May (Argus) — Germany's new federal minister for the environment, climate action, nature conservation and nuclear safety today stressed the importance of "healthy nature" to protect the climate, and of renewable energies and "innovative" technologies to reduce carbon emissions in Germany. Environment minister Carsten Schneider, of the co-ruling left-of-centre SPD party, was sworn in on Tuesday evening with his cabinet colleagues. Schneider said he is looking forward to "driving forward climate action in the coming years, and to promoting the preservation and improvement of our natural resources in nature and the environment, for soil, water and air". Schneider said it is "good and right" to once again have national and international climate action, along with nature conservation and environmental protection, bundled in the environment ministry. Germany's last government split the climate dossier between the economy ministry, which was given the climate action portfolio, and the foreign ministry, which dealt with international climate policy. Previous economy minister Robert Habeck of the Green party last month criticised the decision to exclude climate action from the economy ministry, emphasising the "interlocking" between climate action, industry and energy policy. Schneider today underlined the crucial importance of "ambitious marine protection", and of continuing the previous ministry's natural climate protection action programme to boost the "important" ecosystems in forests, moors and bodies of water. The ministry will support cities and municipalities on nature conservation and climate adaptation, he said. Schneider made no mention of carbon markets or emissions trading systems. Schneider, the former special envoy for Germany's eastern states, is a budget expert with no climate or environment background. His permanent junior minister is Jochen Flasbarth, former permanent junior minister at the development ministry and a permanent junior minister at the environment ministry between 2013-21, at a time when the environment minister was responsible for climate policy. Flasbarth was involved in international climate negotiations, including the UN Cop 21 climate summit in Paris in 2015. Flasbarth is also a former president of federal environment office UBA. Flasbarth as junior development minister urged richer developing countries such as China or Saudi Arabia to contribute more to international climate finance . By Chloe Jardine Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Energy-related methane emissions not falling: IEA


07/05/25
News
07/05/25

Energy-related methane emissions not falling: IEA

Paris, 7 May (Argus) — Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from the energy sector did not fall in 2024 despite widespread pledges to cut them, as few countries have delivered solid plans, according to energy watchdog the IEA. Methane emissions from the fossil fuel sector totalled around 120mn t last year, the organisation said in its global tracker released today. This is in line with emissions in recent years, which have held roughly steady since 2019. The gas has contributed to around 30pc of human-induced global warming since the industrial revolution, the agency said. Four countries — China, Russia, the US and Iran — were responsible for more than 50pc of fossil fuel-related methane emissions last year, with a 20pc, 16pc, 11pc and 5pc share, respectively. Fossil-fuel related methane emissions have held steady, but methane intensity has dropped slightly since 2019, as hydrocarbon production has increased, the IEA said. The watchdog has brought new emissions sources within its remit, integrating emissions from abandoned facilities, including coal mines, for the first time. These sites were responsible for 7.7mn t of emissions in 2024, it found, of which 70pc comes from just three countries — China with 36pc, the US with 21pc and Russia with 12pc. Around three quarters of global hydrocarbon by country of origin, and half by producing firm, falls under voluntary agreements to cut methane emissions, including the Global methane pledge aiming to cut emissions by 30pc by 2030 from 2020. Only 5pc of oil and gas emissions is currently produced under verifiable near-zero emissions standards, the IEA said. It has doubled its estimate of methane released by bioenergy, to 20mn t from 10mn t, largely from incomplete combustion of traditional biomass, with India accounting for a fifth of the total. Around 2mn t comes from biogas and biomethane. Leaks from biogas and biomethane production sites can undermine or entirely cancel out the benefit of switching to these fuels from natural gas, it said. It estimates methane intensity from biogas and biomethane — the proportion of produced gas which leaks — at 8pc and 4pc in Asia-pacific and Europe respectively, the two leading regions in the sector. The IEA estimates that 30pc of fossil fuel-related emissions could have been abated at no net cost, down from its estimate of 40pc of last year because of falls in gas prices. The current round of updates of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) — plans to cut emissions — offers an opportunity to increase ambition, the IEA said. Only 30 NDCs as of 2024 laid out specific measures for targeting methane, while only nine had precise targets. But China last year announced that its NDC would cover all greenhouse gases. US methane The IEA predicts a 35pc fall in US energy-related methane emissions by 2030, despite rollbacks of Biden-era methane initiatives since the beginning of Donald Trump's second presidency. Trump in March blocked a rule which would have obliged producers to pay $900/t for methane emissions, slated to cut fugitive emissions from the US' sprawling gas industry. But some state laws remain on the books, the IEA said, such as limits to venting and flaring in New Mexico and Colorado. And some US firms are still members of emissions cut partnerships such as the UN methane initiative and the oil and gas decarbonisation charter . US producers can still deploy abatement projects which have a positive rate of return, allowing more gas to be brought to market, the IEA said. But lower gas prices in the US compared to prevailing global markets could lessen the incentive for US producers to cut emissions in the absence of binding regulations. By Rhys Talbot Fossil fuel-related methane emissions, 2024 mn t Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Indonesia's coal power phase-out hinges on funding


01/05/25
News
01/05/25

Indonesia's coal power phase-out hinges on funding

Manila, 1 May (Argus) — Indonesia's accelerated coal-fired power phase-out plan hinges on private-sector and international partners financial support, the country's energy ministry said, after issuing further guidance last month. Indonesian energy ministry ESDM published a ministerial regulation in early April outlining the criteria and processes for the early retirement of coal-fired power plants. But the plan will not be carried out if there is no clarity over funding for its energy transition efforts, in which case Jakarta will continue to prioritise domestic energy production, including through fossil-based sources, ESDM said this week. The Indonesian government will not use its state budget or funds from state-owned utility PLN to fund the early retirement of coal-fired plants, ESDM said. The new regulation details the evaluation processes for retiring coal-fired plants early, and emphasises the need for financial support from private-sector or international partners to achieve an accelerated phase out. Policy makers will evaluate the impact of a plant's retirement on the country's electricity grid, power supply and electricity tariffs, among other factors, when considering its phase out, ESDM said. It will also take into account aspects of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) climate financing pact signed with rich nations in 2022, such as the livelihood of employees affected by the phase-out, as well as a plant's capacity, age, utilisation, greenhouse gas emissions and economic value. The availability of foreign and domestic technological support will also be considered; according to ESDM. US president Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the US from the JETP raised concerns earlier this year on whether Indonesia could stick to its energy transition policies, but the country recently secured $60mn in JETP funding to develop a solar project . State-owned utility PLN will be tasked with studying the technical, legal, commercial and financial aspects of decommissioning plants that are put forward for early retirement, including funding sources. It will have to submit a report to the ministry no later than six months from the date a plant is identified for decommissioning, ESDM said. The share of renewables in Indonesia's power mix is expected to rise to around 21pc by 2030 and 41pc by 2040, according to think-tank Ember. By Antonio delos Reyes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Country focus

Country focus
30/04/25

Brazil's energy transition spending drops in 2024

Brazil's energy transition spending drops in 2024

Sao Paulo, 30 April (Argus) — Brazil's mines and energy ministry's (MME) energy transition spending shrank by 83pc in 2024 from the prior year, while resources for fossil fuel incentives remained unchanged, according to the institute of socioeconomic studies Inesc. The MME's energy transition budget was R141,413 ($24,980) in 2024, down from R835,237 in the year prior. MME had only two energy transition-oriented projects under its umbrella last year: biofuels industry studies and renewable power incentives, which represented a combined 0.002pc of its total R7bn budget. Still, despite available resources, MME did not approve any projects for renewable power incentives. It also only used 50pc of its budget for biofuel studies, Inesc said. Even as supply from non-conventional power sources advances , most spending in Brazil's grid revamp — including enhancements to better integrate solar and wind generation — comes from charges paid by consumers through power tariffs, Inesc said. Diverging energy spending Brazil's federal government also cut its energy transition budget for 2025 by 17pc from last year and created a new energy transition program that also pushes for increased fossil fuel usage. The country's energy transition budget for 2025 is R3.64bn, down from R4.44bn in 2024. The new program — also under MME's umbrella — has a budget of around R10mn, with more than half of it destined to studies related to the oil and natural gas industry, Inesc said. A second MME program — which invests in studies in the oil, natural gas, products and biofuels sectors — has an approved budget of R53.1mn. The science and technology ministry is the only in Brazil that increased its energy transition spending for 2025, with R3.03bn approved, a near threefold hike from R800mn in 2024. Spending will focus on the domestic industry sector's energy transition, Inesc said. Climate activists have criticized Brazil for not planning to phase out fossil fuels before, including criticisms to the first letter written by the UN Cop 30 summit's president. The country will hold the summit in November in northern Para state. By Maria Frazatto Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Country focus

Canada’s Liberals ahead on election homestretch


25/04/25
Country focus
25/04/25

Canada’s Liberals ahead on election homestretch

Both parties push the need for new investment to tap non-US energy markets, but project permitting policy is a key differentiator, writes Brett Holmes Calgary, 25 April (Argus) — Canada's Liberal party is positioning itself to receive a fourth straight mandate on 28 April, but it must first fend off a late push by the Conservatives in an election campaign that has been closely watched by the energy sector. The Liberals have benefited from the selection of a new leader in Mark Carney last month, combined with a considerable foe to rally against — US president Donald Trump and his verbal and economic attacks on Canada. While campaigning, Carney has tried to keep the focus on Trump's annexation and economic threats, but momentum has seemingly stalled. The Liberals led the Conservatives by a 42:38 margin on 24 April, but this is three points less than 10 days earlier, according to poll aggregator 338Canada. The tight race has already motivated a record 7.3mn electors to cast their vote at advance polls, and the energy industry has kept a close eye on promises made by both Carney and his challenger, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Both agree that pivoting away from a hostile US is critical, and that new trade corridors to Canada's coasts are key to reaching more reliable partners. But executives from major Canadian energy companies point out that there is likely to be lower-hanging fruit that can attract investment in a country where productivity has been lagging its peers. Industry leaders have pleaded for government to "reset its policies", which Carney seems less inclined to do than Poilievre. Carney sees a future where foreign countries will demand less carbon-intensive oil and gas, meaning a proposed cap on the industry's emissions would be implemented as planned, and support for carbon capture projects would continue under a Liberal government. An overhaul of Canada's Impact Assessment Act is unnecessary, Carney says, suggesting the legislation sets major project proponents up for success because its rigour helps to avoid court battles. But the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (Capp) points to that legislation as the top reason why C$280bn ($200bn) of oil and gas projects were cancelled over the past decade. Repealing the law was among the "demands" Alberta premier Danielle Smith made to Carney in March, but the latter seems content to hang on to many of former prime minister Justin Trudeau's energy policies. Carney was born in Alberta , but familiarity has yet to translate into co-operative relations between federal and provincial government. Yet his desire to build new conventional energy projects marks a key departure from Trudeau. Build, baby build "I'm interested in getting energy infrastructure built," Carney said during the 18 April leaders' debate. "That means pipelines, that means carbon capture and storage, that means electricity grids." And the Liberals are prepared to use federal emergency powers, but consent from provinces would still be required. The Conservatives pitch an accelerated six-month regulatory review period to "unleash" Canada's energy so as to stand up to the likes of Trump from a position of strength. The Conservatives tout shovel-ready projects that would kick-start construction as soon as they are approved by a new government. Capp estimates that Canada has C$50bn of energy investment waiting approval. "For three Liberal terms, Canada has had the worst GDP per capita in the G7," Poilievre says. The National Bank of Canada says this primarily reflects Canada's lacklustre investment and productivity over the past decade. Canadian think-tank CD Howe Institute says this cycle can be corrected by a full overhaul of government policy, including the acceleration of permitting for major private-sector projects. Eliminating current and proposed Liberal policy would be among Poilievre's first moves to resurrect investment. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Country focus

EU red tape ‘unsustainable burden’ for transition


06/02/25
Country focus
06/02/25

EU red tape ‘unsustainable burden’ for transition

London, 6 February (Argus) — EU regulations in their current form are hindering rather than enabling the energy transition, limiting access to funding and slowing renewable installations, delegates at the Financial Times International Energy Policy Forum in Brussels heard this week. EU regulation has become "duplicative", Anthony Gooch Galvez, secretary general of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), told delegates this week. "The burden is unsustainable" even for ERT members, which tend to be big companies, he said, pointing to the additional problems this would cause small to medium-sized businesses. The EU is "too prescriptive" and expects perfection from day one, Ann Mettler of Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy said, leading to low-carbon technologies not being deployed. The "regulatory tsunami did not lead to the desired outcome", and the bloc should give more space to the private sector to support their development, she said. A lack of policy planning has contributed to the problem, Mettler said, pointing to the low number of final investment decisions that have been taken on hydrogen projects. Companies need to be able to implement their plans, she said. "Very cumbersome licensing and permitting processes" are also impeding progress in the region, IEA executive director Fatih Birol told delegates, calling for these to become "much more nimble". And while funding is technically on the table, it is often difficult to access, Gwenaelle Avice Huet of French firm Schneider Electric said, of which the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility is a prime example. "It's not just about the level of money available." US presents opportunity But the stability of the EU's Green Deal, which was announced in 2021 and remains in place, does offer a stark contrast to the US, said Sebastien Treyer, executive director of think-tank the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations. Other speakers also noted the importance of stability and predictability within regulatory frameworks. "You need to have rules to play a good game", Galvez said. In the US, policy has fluctuated wildly between regimes, with president Donald Trump pausing some funding from the country's Inflation Reduction Act in the first days of his new term. This shift could mean US-based investors in the transition look to the EU for opportunities, said Marcin Korolec, president of the Green Economy Institute. "The federal government is not the whole of America. Many other economic players are still very willing to collaborate," Treyer agreed. But a lack of urgency from the European Commission could see the EU fail to capitalise on this, Korolec warned. He criticised in particular the bloc's planned competitiveness fund, announced last week, which would be funded under the EU's next budget starting in 2028, towards the end of Trump's term. "Sitting in a chair for three years waiting is absurd," he said. By Victoria Hatherick and Georgia Gratton Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Country focus

Trump tries again at faster energy permitting


27/01/25
Country focus
27/01/25

Trump tries again at faster energy permitting

Washington, 27 January (Argus) — President Donald Trump is moving early in his second term to fast-track federal permitting by tapping into emergency powers he hopes will expedite approval of oil and gas infrastructure projects and electric transmission lines. Trump spent his first term promising a "massive" permitting overhaul that never materialised, after he was unable to achieve comprehensive updates through regulatory changes or a legislative deal in Congress. But in an executive order he signed on his first day in office that declares a "national energy emergency", he directed his administration to use emergency powers usually used to respond to issues such as natural disasters or short-term fuel shortages, to make it easier to build oil and gas pipelines, refineries and power plants. Trump's order argues that swift government action is needed because former president Joe Biden's policies have created an "emergency" under which energy supplies have become "precariously inadequate and intermittent" and the electric grid is "increasingly unreliable". It directs government agencies to use emergency powers to expedite issuance of water permits under the Clean Water Act and fast-track project reviews under the Endangered Species Act. It also asks regulators to "use all lawful emergency" powers to support the supply, refining and transportation of energy in the US west coast, northeast US and Alaska. But the White House will not offer expedited permitting for wind farms, which Trump detests and says should no longer be built. His administration has issued orders to stop leasing federal lands for wind farms, prompting an outcry from offshore wind group Turn Forward, whose executive director Hillary Bright sees a disconnect between declaring an energy emergency while impeding the buildout of wind power capacity, which is on track to grow by 60pc by 2028. Trump also rescinded a 1977 executive order supporting binding government-wide regulations for issuing environmental reviews of projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This provides a chance to overhaul processes under NEPA, a decades-old law that often requires time-consuming reviews of projects that can take years to prepare and are regularly challenged in court. Where's the emergency? But tapping emergency powers to expedite permitting and overhaul NEPA processes could face substantial risks in court. Energy projects approved using novel processes would almost certainly face a barrage of lawsuits from environmentalists, who see no legal justification to jettison standard permitting rules that have been in place for decades. "There is no energy emergency. There is a climate emergency," environmental group NRDC's president, Manish Bapna, says. Republicans in Congress are considering ways to expedite permitting using a filibuster-proof manouevre called ‘budget reconciliation', which they also intend to use to cut taxes, expand fossil fuel leasing and push through other parts of Trump's agenda. Arkansas Republican representative,and chairman of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Bruce Westerman says "certain parts of permitting" could qualify for that bill, so long as they affect the federal budget. Industry officials are urging lawmakers to create durable energy policy. But Trump's efforts to roll back wind, solar and other clean energy projects — one executive order pauses disbursement of all funds enacted under Biden's signature climate laws — could threaten the bipartisan support required to pass comprehensive permitting changes. Democrats last year were willing to support permitting changes to help pipelines, in exchange for fast-tracking the electric grid buildout needed to deploy vast amounts of renewable energy. Blocking clean energy projects would remove an incentive for compromise. By Chris Knight Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Country focus

Trump puts US climate risk disclosures on the outs


21/01/25
Country focus
21/01/25

Trump puts US climate risk disclosures on the outs

Houston, 21 January (Argus) — US President Donald Trump revoked an executive order by his predecessor on Monday that required federal agencies to take steps to assess climate-related risks to the country's economy. The order revocation comes as part of a flurry of repeals and executive orders from Trump in his first days in office. The move, along with withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, is in line with Trump's plans to distance his administration from former president Joe Biden's environmental goals, following campaign promises to focus on a deregulatory agenda and increase US oil production. "Climate extremism has exploded inflation and overburdened businesses with regulation," the executive order said. Biden issued his executive order in 2021 directing the federal government to take steps to assess climate risk impacts on the financial system, homeowners and businesses and then help inform the government and investors of those risks. It also required the identification of public and private financing needs to meet the Biden administration's net-zero emissions target for the US economy by 2050. But some of Biden's plans were already on their way out in the final days of his administration, while others are likely to be revisited by the government under Trump. The US Department of Defense (DOD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), General Services Administration (GSA) on 13 January withdrew their proposed rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation, which would have required major federal suppliers to publicly disclose GHG emissions and climate-related financial risk along with setting science-based GHG reduction targets in line with the executive order. The agencies cited a lack of time to finalize the rule, first proposed in 2022, before the end of the Biden administration. The lack of Trump support for federal climate-change disclosures is likely to slow progress on creating a national framework for measuring the impact of climate-change on US financial systems, investments, and housing among other sectors. The impact is likely to leave federal agencies unprepared to handle the aftermath, according to non-profit group Ceres. "Without comprehensive data and planning frameworks in place, federal agencies will be ill-equipped to protect taxpayer investments, ensure continuity of critical services, and build resilience against growing climate-related threats," said Steven Rothstein, managing director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. With the departure of US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) chairman Gary Gensler on Monday, Trump's Republican replacement, acting chairman Mark Uyeda, will likely revisit the SEC's related disclosure requirements . Under a rule finalized last year, companies publicly listed in the US must begin disclosure of climate-related information by March 2026. But state-level action will continue even if the federal government unravels the previous administration's disclosure requirements. California has already mandated these disclosures. SB 261, signed by governor Gavin Newsom (D) in 2023 , requires companies operating in the state with revenues of $500mn/yr or more to biennially report, starting in 2026, the immediate and long-term climate-related financial risks within their operations and supply chain. The California Air Resources Board is taking public feedback to develop the regulations through July, with disclosures beginning in 2026. New York is also considering similar requirements. By Denise Cathey Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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