Far too many of the planet's precious forests have gone up in smoke these past few weeks amid baking conditions, reminding us of the importance of looking after them better - not least because the carbon they store reins in climate heating.

But working out an honest global system for valuing the emissions trees and other natural systems keep out of the atmosphere, and allowing those reductions to be traded on markets that can channel finance to conservation projects, is a tough task.

This week sees the launch of a public consultation on a new set of "Core Carbon Principles" that are intended to raise the bar for the quality of credits on offer in the world's voluntary carbon markets.

The aim is to help companies - now increasingly looking at carbon credits to offset some of their emissions and fund worthwhile projects - sort the wheat from the chaff with sorely-needed guidance.

Climate justice advocates, meanwhile, are pushing for a flat levy on this form of carbon trading, to help vulnerable communities adapt to extreme weather and rising seas, and improve the "social integrity" of the market, which they argue has been neglected so far.

With temperatures rising and climate action to meet limits still falling far short, the world needs to tackle emissions on all fronts, including those generated by landfill sites and the products we use and throw away.

Our correspondent Sebastien Malo reports from the tiny Greek island of Tilos on a project to cut waste - which spikes during the summer tourist season - reducing emissions and creating jobs in the process.

For its "Just Go Zero" project, the island has teamed up with Polygreen, a Piraeus-based network of companies promoting a circular economy, which aims to design waste and pollution out of supply chains.

More than ten Greek municipalities and some small countries are interested in duplicating the project, it says - but making a success of such efforts on a large scale is quite a challenge compared with an island microcosm.

"It's simply easier to engage with people on a more personal level in a smaller-sized municipality," says one researcher.

Businesses across the globe, meanwhile, are struggling to offer their employees effective ways of dealing with accelerating climate impacts, as staff seek to learn and act in the workplace, research shows.

Companies will need to up their game, if they are to retain talent in a more climate-savvy world, writes Sophie Lambin, CEO at Kite Insights which surveyed more than 7,000 private-sector employees across 15 major industries worldwide.

It's a question that delivery platform companies - whose riders and drivers are out on the streets come fiercer rain or shine - will need to confront urgently.

We report from Asia on how they're starting to respond to growing customer concern with surcharges to help workers cope, as employers are expected to face rising pressure to keep their labour force safe in a warming world.

See you next week!

Megan

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