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Federal Government Updates Industrial Carbon Pricing Benchmark Trajectory

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CC 4.0 Joli Rumi

The federal government has updated the headline price trajectory for industrial carbon pricing systems assessed under the federal carbon pricing benchmark. As of May 15, 2026, the headline price trajectory per tonne of CO₂e emissions for industrial carbon pricing systems is as follows: The updated trajectory is lower than the previous federal benchmark pathway through 2030, and extends the headline trajectory to 2040. A full updated federal benchmark is expected to be published later in 2026. The federal government has stated that the updated trajectory takes into account feedback from provinces, territories, industry, and other stakeholders, and is intended to provide longer-term certainty to support major decarbonization projects. The updated trajectory was announced days after the Canada-Alberta MOU Implementation Agreement, which applies the same trajectory to Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) system and includes related commitments on annual benchmark stringency rates, a regulated minimum transfer price for TIER credits (i.e., a price floor) beginning in 2030, limits on direct investment credits, and carbon contracts for difference for eligible emissions-reduction investments. The benchmark announcement does not, by itself, amend the excess emissions charge under the federal output-based pricing system (OBPS), which is set out in Schedule 4 to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. We anticipate that, if the federal OBPS charge is to be aligned with the updated trajectory, further implementation would follow, including through an Order-in-Council amending Schedule 4. For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com or Jonathan McGillivray at jonathan@resilientllp.com. Image: CC 4.0 Joli Rumi

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ECCC Publishes Discussion Paper and Launches Consultation on Effective Carbon Markets

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Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) recently published a discussion paper on “Driving effective carbon markets in Canada” (the Discussion Paper). The Discussion Paper sets out proposed changes to the federal benchmark criteria ahead of the federal government’s review next year. ECCC also launched consultations on the Discussion Paper, seeking comments and responses to questions included in the Discussion Paper from stakeholders.  This bulletin briefly summarizes the key topic areas, current requirements, the federal government’s proposal and considerations, and next steps set out in the Discussion Paper. Common scope of coverage Current requirement. The current benchmark requires that carbon pricing systems maintain a common scope, covering, at a minimum, an equivalent percent of combustion emissions as the federal backstop. It also requires market-based systems to cover industrial process emissions, and to limit eligibility for OBPSs, performance rebates, or the free allocation of allowances to sectors that are at risk of carbon leakage and competitiveness impacts of carbon pricing. Proposals and considerations. ECCC notes that the removal of the fuel charge (see our earlier bulletin here) requires rethinking how scope of coverage should work. The federal government is considering the following three options to modify the benchmark to specify the common scope criteria explicitly to ensure consistent minimum coverage across systems: Option 1: A threshold-based approach that would cover all facilities in specific sectors emitting above a certain level annually. Thresholds under consideration are 10kt per year (Option 1A) and 25kt per year (Option 1B). Option 1A would cover a large number of facilities and industrial activities, which would support market function and liquidity, but could create intra-sectoral competitiveness risks in some sectors. Option 1B would reduce these risks by covering fewer industrial activities where there is a significant split between emissions above and below the threshold, but may negatively impact market function…

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Verra and S&P Announce Major Registry Partnership

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Verra and S&P Global Commodity Insights (S&P) yesterday announced a new partnership that will see Verra overhaul its registry using S&P’s registry-build infrastructure software. The organizations say that the partnership is a major step toward “more scalable, interoperable, and digitally integrated infrastructure” and represents collaboration between the world’s largest standards body for climate action and sustainable development and the world’s largest commodities and benchmark information provider. The new registry will roll out in two stages, with a foundational phase launching within the next six months and the second phase launching in 2026. It is expected to include: Integration, and a two-way data exchange, with the Verra Project Hub, enabling project proponents to prepare project documents and move through the full lifecycle (i.e., registration, monitoring, issuance) with less duplication and greater efficiency; Expanded digitization and system connectivity, reducing administrative burden for developers and accelerating verification and credit issuance timelines; Transaction-ready application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow for automated transfers and retirements, replacing manual processes and enabling frictionless, high-volume trading across brokers, exchanges, and marketplaces; Improved transparency and customizable reporting tools; and Foundational infrastructure for future innovations, including expanded Article 6 and CORSIA functionality and integration with various programs, governments, market participants, exchanges, insurers, and financial platforms. We anticipate that details on timelines, new access procedures, and system improvements will be announced in September. The Verra-S&P partnership follows the January 28, 2025 announcement that Winrock International’s Environmental Resources Trust (ERT), will use Intercontinental Exchange, Inc.’s (ICE’s) registry technology service, ICE GreenTrace, for its crediting programs: American Carbon Registry (ACR); the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART); and the new sectoral crediting standard in development for the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA).   For further information or to discuss the contents of this bulletin, please contact Lisa DeMarco at lisa@resilientllp.com or Jonathan McGillivray at jonathan@resilientllp.com.

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Biden-Harris Administration Announces Principles for High-Integrity Voluntary Carbon Markets

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The Biden-Harris Administration (the Administration) today released the Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) Joint Policy Statement and Principles (the Principles), along with an accompanying fact sheet (the Fact Sheet). The Principles represent the U.S. government’s affirmation that high-integrity VCMs can and should play a meaningful role in reducing and removing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support the objective of global net-zero emissions by 2050. The Principles support the Administration’s commitment to ensuring VCMs effectively channel private capital into innovative technological and nature-based solutions, while also protecting natural ecosystems and supporting the U.S. and international partners in achieving their climate objectives.   The Principles follow other key U.S. climate-related legislation and policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act (see our earlier bulletin here), climate adaptation and resilience plans for federal agencies (see our earlier bulletin here), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Principles for Net-Zero Financing and Investment, released last year, supporting the development and execution of strong net-zero commitments and transition plans by financial institutions, with a focus on Scope 3 financed and facilitated GHG emissions.   This bulletin briefly summarizes the Principles, their anticipated role in addressing climate change, and other ongoing U.S. government actions to support VCMs.    Principles for high-integrity VCMs. The Principles provide seven principles for high-integrity VCMs, drawing from existing best practices for credit certification standards, including the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), the G7’s Principles for High-Integrity Carbon Markets, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s proposed guidance regarding the listing of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts (December 2023), the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (ICVCM) Core Carbon Principles (see our earlier bulletin here), and relevant decisions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The Principles are as follows: Carbon credits and the activities that generate them should meet credible atmospheric integrity standards and represent real decarbonization. Credit-generating activities should avoid environmental and social harm and should, where applicable, support…

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G7 Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministers Commit to Urgent Action on Climate Change

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The Group of Seven (G7) recently published the Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting Communiqué following the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment held last week in Turin, Italy. This marked the first meeting of G7 climate, energy and environment ministers (the Ministers) since COP28 last November and included renewed commitments on strengthening energy security, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, limiting global temperature increases to 1.5°C, and the imperative of transitioning to cleaner energy sources for economic growth and climate resilience. We view the Ministers’ renewed dedication to energy transition as the meeting’s most significant outcome, although it is important to note that countries heavily reliant on coal maintain some degree of flexibility. This bulletin briefly highlights key commitments made by the Ministers. Carbon Markets. Key carbon market commitments include: work jointly towards delivering robust outcomes from the Work Programme on Article 6 at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan later this year; explore innovative options for carbon markets and carbon pricing to contribute to mobilizing public and private contributions to climate finance; and  enhance demand and robust certification standards for carbon dioxide removals.  Energy. Key energy commitments include: phase out existing unabated coal power generation in energy systems during the first half of 2030s or in a timeline consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, in line with national net-zero pathways; setting a global target of reaching 1,500 GW of energy storage in the electricity sector by 2030, six times more than in 2022;  reduce demand for and use of fossil fuels, including by rapidly scaling-up clean technologies in power generation, transportation and other end users; and phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, with all countries committing to a progress report in 2025, when Canada will have the Presidency of the G7 (read our earlier bulletin on Canada’s inefficient…

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