Insight,

Carbon Markets Regulatory Tracker

GLOBAL | EN
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Australia
China
China Hong Kong SAR
Japan
Singapore
United States
Global

What's happening across the carbon landscape? Stay current with key dates in Australia, Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong SAR

As the world transitions to a low-carbon economy, we see carbon markets playing an increasing role to help achieve net zero ambitions. Staying on top of deadlines and developments is essential.

What is next to come across the region? Whether it’s a reporting deadline, a chance to submit to a policy review or a milestone change. Below are our trackers to help you stay up-to-date. These will evolve to keep you across developments.

Australia

Carbon pricing mechanisms and regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in incentivising businesses to reduce emissions and explore other techniques like storage. The ACCU Scheme and Safeguard Mechanism are among the more significant examples in Australia. Both schemes are under continuing consideration for refinement.

Chinese Mainland

China boasts the world’s biggest emissions trading scheme by size. In late 2023, it renewed its voluntary carbon market – a potential game changer set to broaden decarbonisation initiatives. This landscape is helping to accelerate innovation among businesses. 

Hong Kong SAR

Hong Kong’s carbon markets are evolving rapidly as demand for offsets and trading grows. In late 2022 it launched Core Climate, its voluntary carbon market, attracting projects from around the region and beyond. Most significantly, Hong Kong has serious aspirations to become a carbon trading hub. 

Please reach out to your KWM contact if we can assist on any of these topics. We are here to help.

LATEST THINKING
Insight
Data centres are vital to Australia’s digital future, driving essential services, AI platforms, cloud computing and all of the internet connected devices in each of our homes.

11 June 2025

Insight
Hong Kong is strategically positioned to influence the shift to sustainable finance and drive investment in green technology and infrastructure. One of the chief advantages Hong Kong holds is its potential to act as a super-connector between Mainland China and the global market. Plans made in late 2024 are set to further grow its green debt market and make it a ‘go-to’ for sustainable financing (find more on the Sustainable Finance Action Agenda below).

05 June 2025

Insight
For Japan's energy transition, these agreements are game-changers. In a post-Fukushima context where the country has struggled to balance energy security with decarbonisation goals, corporate PPAs provide a market-based mechanism to finance new renewable capacity outside traditional subsidy schemes. The data centre sector's entrance into this space is particularly noteworthy, as it addresses the dual challenges of powering Japan's digital economy while meeting increasingly stringent corporate environmental commitments.

03 June 2025