The recent merger talks between two mining giants—Glencore and Rio Tinto—signal a major shift in the global market. The merger, though now discontinued, was a strategic move aimed at creating a powerhouse focused on electric metals crucial to the global low-carbon economy.
These metals, including copper, nickel, and cobalt, are key components in the development of electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy infrastructure, and other clean technologies that are central to the global energy transition.
The Strategic Merger Discontinued: But Climate Commitments Persist
Glencore and Rio Tinto recently engaged in months-long merger talks, signaling a shift in Rio’s previously cautious approach to mega-deals. A decade after Rio rejected Glencore’s proposal, the mining giants revisited discussions amidst an industry-wide push for consolidation in energy transition metals.
Changes in leadership, strategy, and market dynamics—alongside pressure from BHP’s bold moves—catalyzed these talks. Although the discussions are currently inactive, Rio’s openness to Glencore highlights evolving priorities as both companies adapt to global decarbonization demands.
The news fuels speculation of an impending wave of mergers and acquisitions across the mining sector.
The potential merger between Glencore and Rio Tinto is more than just asset consolidation. It is also about positioning both companies at the forefront of the green energy revolution.
The focus was on strengthening their leadership in the production of essential transition metals like copper and nickel. These metals are vital for EV batteries, renewable energy storage, and electrified transportation networks. As the world moves towards electrification, ensuring a sustainable, reliable supply of these metals is important.
Both companies share a commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement. Together, they pledged to reduce their carbon emissions and ensure that their efforts to supply clean energy solutions won’t contribute to the environmental challenges they seek to address.
Glencore’s Commitment to Electric Metals and Decarbonization
Glencore has long been a leader in mining and is heavily invested in producing metals crucial for the transition to a low-carbon future. The company focuses on metals like copper, nickel, and cobalt, which are integral to the electrification of the world’s infrastructure.
With the global rise in electric vehicle production and the expansion of renewable energy sources, Glencore’s strategic approach centers on securing a stable and sustainable supply of these key transition commodities.
A standout focus is on nickel, which is used extensively in EV batteries. As the demand for EVs continues to surge, Glencore has committed to increasing its nickel production.
In its 2024-2026 Climate Action Transition Plan (CATP), Glencore outlined ambitious plans to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. The plan incorporates a range of strategies aimed at reducing emissions across its operations while ensuring the continued availability of critical metals, with the following target based on 2019 baselines:
- 2026: 15% reduction in Scope 1, 2, and 3 CO₂e emissions by end-2026.
- 2030: 25% reduction by end-2030 (new interim target added based on stakeholder feedback).
- 2035: 50% reduction by end-2035.

Glencore’s net-zero emissions strategy prioritizes reducing emissions while using carbon credits for residual emissions, aligned with the Paris Agreement. As seen below, the mining giant’s footprint in 2023 has increased from 2022 but is 22% less than 2019 levels.

Glencore’s approach to decarbonization extends beyond just emissions reduction. It is also focused on transitioning its entire industrial portfolio to support the global energy transition. The company has committed to a holistic decarbonization strategy that includes reducing its combined Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Rio Tinto’s $6 Billion Decarbonization Pledge
Similarly, Rio Tinto has long recognized the importance of electric metals in the global transition to clean energy. The company has significantly ramped up its production of copper and lithium—two metals that are pivotal for EV batteries and renewable energy storage.
The world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation also aims to reach net zero emissions by 2050, with this roadmap:

In January 2025, Rio Tinto announced the establishment of a standalone lithium division, following its $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium. This move solidified Rio Tinto’s position as the 3rd-largest global producer of lithium vital for the development of high-capacity batteries.
The company’s strategy is aimed at meeting the accelerating demand for electric metals as more countries commit to electrification.
Like Glencore, Rio Tinto has committed to ambitious decarbonization goals. The company aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030.

To achieve these targets, Rio Tinto has pledged $5–6 billion in decarbonization initiatives, focusing on energy transition efforts, renewable energy adoption, and advancements in clean technologies for mining processes.
In 2023, the company spent $425 million on decarbonization projects, including transitioning mining equipment to renewable energy sources and repowering its aluminum operations. For the same year, the miner’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions totaled 32.6 Mt CO2e, a 6% reduction from the 2018 baseline of 34.5 Mt CO2e and slightly below the adjusted 2022 figure of 32.7 Mt CO2e.

The company’s emissions abatement projects outpaced growth from higher production, leading to a minor decrease on a like-for-like basis. However, emissions were slightly higher than the actual 2022 total of 32.3 Mt CO2e due to recent acquisitions of additional equity.
Future Prospects: Meeting the Rising Demand for Clean Energy Materials
Although merger talks between Glencore and Rio Tinto were ultimately discontinued in January 2025, both companies remain key players in the global mining and energy transition sectors. Their strategies continue to strengthen their positions in the electric metals market.
The merging of their expertise and resources would have allowed them to combine their mining operations and expertise. This could have given them an edge in the low-carbon energy transition.
Looking forward, both Glencore and Rio Tinto will continue to focus on expanding their portfolios of electric metals and achieving their decarbonization and net-zero targets. As more countries and industries pivot to sustainable energy, these companies will be critical in ensuring a steady supply of the metals required for a low-carbon world.
The post Can a Rio Tinto-Glencore Merger Supercharge the Race to Net Zero? appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
Climate Impact Partners Unveils High-Quality Carbon Credits from Sabah Rainforest in Malaysia
The voluntary carbon market is changing. Buyers are no longer focused only on large volumes of cheap credits. Instead, they want projects with strong science, long-term monitoring, and clear proof that carbon has truly been removed from the atmosphere. That shift is drawing more attention to high-integrity, nature-based projects.
One project now gaining that spotlight is the Sabah INFAPRO rainforest rehabilitation project in Malaysia. Climate Impact Partners announced that the project is now issuing verified carbon removal credits, opening access to one of the highest-quality nature-based removals currently available in the global market.
Restoring One of the World’s Richest Rainforest Ecosystems
The project is located in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. This region is home to tropical dipterocarp rainforest, one of the richest forest ecosystems on Earth. These forests store huge amounts of carbon and support extraordinary biodiversity. Some dipterocarp trees can grow up to 70 meters tall, creating habitat for orangutans, pygmy elephants, gibbons, sun bears, and the critically endangered Sumatran rhino.
However, the forest within the INFAPRO project area was not intact. In the 1980s, selective logging removed many of the most valuable tree species, especially large dipterocarps. That caused serious ecological damage. Once the key mother trees were gone, natural regeneration became much harder. Young seedlings also had to compete with dense vines and shrubs, which slowed the forest’s recovery.
To repair that damage, the INFAPRO project was launched in the Ulu-Segama forestry management unit in eastern Sabah.
- The project has restored more than 25,000 hectares of logged-over rainforest.
- It was developed by Face the Future in cooperation with Yayasan Sabah, while Climate Impact Partners has supported the project and helped bring its credits to market.
Why Sabah’s Carbon Removals are Attracting Attention
What makes Sabah INFAPRO different is not only the size of the restoration effort. It is also the way the project measured carbon gains.

Many forest carbon projects issue credits in annual vintages based on year-by-year growth estimates. Sabah INFAPRO followed a different path. It used a landscape-scale monitoring system and waited until the forest moved through its strongest natural growth period before issuing removal credits.
- This approach gives the credits more weight. Rather than relying mainly on short-term annual estimates, the project measured carbon sequestration over a longer period. That helps show that the forest delivered real, sustained, and measurable carbon removal.
The scientific backing is also unusually strong. Since 2007, the project has maintained nearly 400 permanent monitoring plots. These plots have allowed researchers, independent auditors, and technical specialists to observe the full growth cycle of dipterocarp forest recovery. The result is a large body of field data that supports carbon calculations and strengthens confidence in the credits.
In simple terms, buyers are not just being asked to trust a model. They are being shown years of direct forest monitoring across the project landscape.
Strong Ratings Support Market Confidence
Independent assessment has also lifted the project’s profile. BeZero awarded Sabah INFAPRO an A.pre overall rating and an AA score for permanence. That places the project among the highest-rated Improved Forest Management, or IFM, projects in the world.
The rating reflects several important strengths. First, the project has very low exposure to reversal risk. Second, it has a long and stable operating history. Third, its measured carbon gains align well with peer-reviewed ecological research and independent analysis.
These points matter in today’s market. Buyers have become more cautious after years of debate over the quality of some forest carbon credits. As a result, they now look more closely at durability, transparency, and third-party validation. Sabah INFAPRO’s rating helps answer those concerns and makes the project more attractive to companies looking for credible carbon removal.
The project is also registered with Verra’s Verified Carbon Standard under the name INFAPRO Rehabilitation of Logged-over Dipterocarp Forest in Sabah, Malaysia. That adds another level of market recognition and verification.
A Wider Model for Rainforest Recovery
Sabah INFAPRO also shows why high-quality nature-based projects are about more than carbon alone. The restoration effort supports broader ecological recovery in one of the world’s most important rainforest regions.
Climate Impact Partners said it has worked with project partners to restore degraded areas, run local training programs, carry out monthly forest patrols, and distribute seedlings to support rainforest recovery beyond the project boundary. These efforts help strengthen the wider landscape and expand the project’s environmental impact.
That broader value is becoming more important for buyers. Companies increasingly want projects that support biodiversity, ecosystem health, and local engagement, along with carbon removal. Sabah INFAPRO offers that mix, making it a stronger fit for the market’s shift toward higher-integrity credits.

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Carbon Footprint
Bitcoin Falls as Energy Prices Rise: Why Crypto Is Now an Energy Market Story
Bitcoin’s recent drop below $70,000 reflects more than short-term market pressure. It signals a deeper shift. The world’s largest cryptocurrency is becoming increasingly tied to global energy markets.
For years, Bitcoin has moved mainly on investor sentiment, adoption trends, and regulation. Today, another force is shaping its direction: the cost of energy.
As oil prices rise and electricity markets tighten, Bitcoin is starting to behave less like a tech asset and more like an energy-dependent system. This shift is changing how investors, analysts, and policymakers understand crypto.
A Global Power Consumer: Inside Bitcoin’s Energy Use
Bitcoin depends on mining, a process that uses powerful computers to verify transactions. These machines run continuously and consume large amounts of electricity.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows Bitcoin mining used between 67 and 240 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023, with a midpoint estimate of about 120 TWh.

Other estimates place consumption closer to 170 TWh per year in 2025. This accounts for roughly 0.5% of global electricity demand. Recently, as of February 2026, estimates see Bitcoin’s energy use reaching over 200 TWh per year.
That level of energy use is significant. Global electricity demand reached about 27,400 TWh in 2023. Bitcoin’s share may seem small, but it is comparable to the power use of mid-sized countries.
The network also requires steady power. Estimates suggest it draws around 10 gigawatts continuously, similar to several large power plants operating at full capacity. This constant demand makes energy costs central to Bitcoin’s economics.
When Oil Rises, Bitcoin Falls
Bitcoin mining is highly sensitive to electricity prices. Energy is the highest operating cost for miners. When power becomes more expensive, profit margins shrink.
Recent market movements show this link clearly. As oil prices rise and inflation concerns persist, energy costs have increased. At the same time, Bitcoin prices have weakened, falling below the $70,000 level.

This is not a coincidence. Studies show a direct relationship between Bitcoin prices, mining activity, and electricity use. When Bitcoin prices rise, more miners join the network, increasing energy demand. When energy costs rise, less efficient miners may shut down, reducing activity and adding selling pressure.
This creates a feedback loop between crypto and energy markets. Bitcoin is no longer driven only by demand and speculation. It is now influenced by the same forces that affect oil, gas, and power prices.
Cleaner Energy Use Is Growing, but Fossil Fuels Still Matter
Bitcoin’s environmental impact depends on its energy mix. This mix is improving, but it remains uneven.
A 2025 study from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance found that 52.4% of Bitcoin mining now uses sustainable energy. This includes both renewable sources (42.6%) and nuclear power (9.8%). The share has risen significantly from about 37.6% in 2022.
Despite this progress, fossil fuels still account for a large portion of mining energy. Natural gas alone makes up about 38.2%, while coal continues to contribute a smaller share.

This reliance on fossil fuels keeps emissions high. Current estimates suggest Bitcoin produces more than 114 million tons of carbon dioxide each year. That puts it in line with emissions from some industrial sectors.
The shift toward cleaner energy is real, but it is not complete. The pace of change will play a key role in how Bitcoin fits into global climate goals.
Bitcoin’s Climate Debate Intensifies
Bitcoin’s growing energy demand has placed it at the center of ESG discussions. Its impact is often measured through three key areas:
- Total electricity use, which rivals that of entire countries.
- Carbon emissions are estimated at over 100 million tons of CO₂ annually.
- Energy intensity, with a single transaction using large amounts of power.

At the same time, the industry is evolving. Mining companies are adopting more efficient hardware and exploring new energy sources. Some operations use excess renewable power or capture waste energy, such as flare gas from oil fields.
These efforts show progress, but they do not fully address the concerns. The gap between Bitcoin’s energy use and its environmental impact remains a key issue for investors and regulators.
- MUST READ: Bitcoin Price Hits All-Time High Above $126K: ETFs, Market Drivers, and the Future of Digital Gold
Bitcoin Is Becoming Part of the Energy System
Bitcoin mining is now closely integrated with the broader energy system. Operators often choose locations based on access to cheap or excess electricity. This includes areas with strong renewable generation or underused energy resources.
This integration creates both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, mining can support energy systems by using power that might otherwise go to waste. It can also provide flexible demand that helps stabilize grids.
On the other hand, it can increase pressure on local electricity supplies and extend the use of fossil fuels if cleaner options are not available.
In the United States, Bitcoin mining could account for up to 2.3% of total electricity demand in certain scenarios. This highlights how quickly the sector is scaling and how closely it is tied to national energy systems.
Energy Markets Are Now Key to Bitcoin’s Future
Looking ahead, the connection between Bitcoin and energy is expected to grow stronger. The network’s computing power, or hash rate, continues to reach new highs, which typically leads to higher energy use.
Electricity will remain the main cost for miners. This means Bitcoin will continue to respond to changes in energy prices and supply conditions. At the same time, governments are starting to pay closer attention to crypto’s environmental impact, which could shape future regulations.

Some forecasts suggest Bitcoin’s energy use could rise sharply if adoption increases, potentially reaching up to 400 TWh in extreme scenarios. However, cleaner energy systems could reduce the carbon impact over time.
Bitcoin is no longer just a financial asset. It is also a large-scale energy consumer and a growing part of the global power system.
As a result, understanding Bitcoin now requires a broader view. Energy prices, electricity markets, and carbon trends are becoming just as important as market demand and investor sentiment.
The message is clear. As energy markets move, Bitcoin is likely to move with them.
The post Bitcoin Falls as Energy Prices Rise: Why Crypto Is Now an Energy Market Story appeared first on Carbon Credits.
Carbon Footprint
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