One big question policy makers are grappling with these days is to what extent markets can be used to curb climate change and protect the nature that's fundamental to our wellbeing in so many ways.

For some it's a no-brainer: if only we can shift the trillions of dollars washing around the global financial system to invest in a green and socially fair transition, then job done, they argue.

For others, it's far from clear that the profit-hungry capitalist beast can transform itself into the tree-loving, people-centred creature the planet needs.

Right now the two worlds are colliding in the "crypto carbon" market - also known as regenerative finance - whose proponents say putting carbon credits on the blockchain will increase transparency and open up the market to new investors, boosting much-needed flows of climate finance.

But can this be easily believed?

Market veterans are worried that the process of bundling up offsets from various forest conservation or renewable energy projects into "digital tokens" is obscuring the quality of the underlying asset, and is tilted far more in favour of financial speculators than trees and communities.

"I don't like the idea that you take a variety of credits - some good, some crap - you tokenize them into the blockchain without any additional controls, and the buyer has no idea what the hell they are buying," says Pedro Martins Barata, co-chair of an expert panel on improving the integrity of the voluntary carbon markets.

We've spent the past few months investigating the risks and opportunities of the crypto carbon market, focused on one major pioneer, Brazilian "green" crypto firm Moss. We think it's an eye-opening piece of reporting that is well worth your time.

Given that our head office is in the UK, we - like many - were saddened by the death of Queen Elizabeth II last week. The accession of her son, the former Prince of Wales, to the throne raises the important question of whether he will be able to continue with his green activism as monarch.

Our London-based reporter, Jack Graham, asked analysts if King Charles III will need to pass the political baton to others, despite Britain's net-zero emissions target being enshrined in law - something he hinted at in his first speech to the nation in his new role.

Even die-hard republicans would struggle to deny that the nature-loving king has played a major part in pushing climate change and conservation up the international political agenda, even though he often relies on carbon-heavy flights or the royal helicopter to get from A to B.

A regular at U.N. climate conferences in recent years, Charles is less likely to be heading to Egypt for COP27 this November due to the demands of his new duties.

But will other world leaders show up? African heads of government were not impressed by the conspicuous absence of their European counterparts at a recent climate adaptation summit, despite it being held on their turf in Rotterdam.

Senegalese President Macky Sall said richer nations' failure to come to the table and discuss how to pay for climate damage they have caused was disappointing, amid calls for far bigger flows of finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change impacts. It'll be a live topic at COP27.

Indigenous representatives are also hoping to get some traction there for their push to land a global pact to protect 80% of the Amazon rainforest by 2025. They have plenty of ideas but need financial, political and technical backing to make them happen, reports Dan Collyns from Lima.

See you next week,

Megan

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