Recommendations for SBSTA49 agenda item 11(a) as it relates to the guidance for cooperative approaches referred to in article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement

Carbon Market Watch argues that Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement must be designed as a set of mandatory rules for all credit transfers to avoid undermining climate ambition. The brief recommends that Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) be limited to project-based emission reductions, excluding sector-based approaches and Emissions Trading System (ETS) allowances. To prevent double counting, the author advocates for corresponding adjustments at the first point of transfer and the creation of a publicly accessible international transaction log covering both UNFCCC and non-UNFCCC mechanisms.

• Article 6.2 should be established as a mandatory set of rules for all credit transfers, including those generated under the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM), to prevent a scenario where weaker rules for cooperative approaches divert activity away from the SDM and reduce overall climate ambition.
• ITMOs must be restricted to project-based mitigation activities that are real, permanent, additional, and verifiable. The document argues against sector-based crediting and the use of ETS allowances or net flows between linked ETSs, noting that in systems with oversupply, such as the European Emissions Trading System, converting allowances into credits could actually increase emissions.
• To eliminate double counting, corresponding adjustments must be applied to all offset credits at the point of first transfer. These adjustments should be emissions-based and applied to the host Party's account according to its emissions inventory, regardless of whether the transfer is domestic or international (e.g., for CORSIA compliance).
• A transparent, publicly accessible international transaction log should be implemented and linked to national registries. This system must track the entire lifecycle of each unit—including issuance, transfer, use, and cancellation—across both UNFCCC and non-UNFCCC programs, including the voluntary market.

APA

Carbon Market Watch (2018). Recommendations for SBSTA49 agenda item 11(a) as it relates to the guidance for cooperative approaches referred to in article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Recommendations-for-SBSTA49-A6.2_web_final.pdf

Chicago

Carbon Market Watch. Recommendations for SBSTA49 agenda item 11(a) as it relates to the guidance for cooperative approaches referred to in article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. 2018. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Recommendations-for-SBSTA49-A6.2_web_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Carbon Market Watch |title=Recommendations for SBSTA49 agenda item 11(a) as it relates to the guidance for cooperative approaches referred to in article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement |date=November 2018 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Recommendations-for-SBSTA49-A6.2_web_final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carbonmarketwatch2018recommendations, author = {{Carbon Market Watch}}, title = {{Recommendations for SBSTA49 agenda item 11(a) as it relates to the guidance for cooperative approaches referred to in article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement}}, institution = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2018}, month = nov, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Recommendations-for-SBSTA49-A6.2_web_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }