Highlight of the news:
A new carbon offsets registry called the Asia Carbon Institute (ACI) has been launched in Singapore to address the growing demand for carbon offset projects in Asia. Unlike other registries that focus on nature-based projects, ACI will primarily target offsets generated from green technology, buildings, and urban infrastructure with lower emissions.
The registry is currently in discussions with developers for over 20 projects and aims to list 50 projects within the next 6 to 12 months. Although some criticize renewable energy projects for not meeting “additionality” standards (i.e., going beyond business-as-usual emissions reductions), ACI has stated it will evaluate such projects on a case-by-case basis, rather than imposing blanket restrictions.