Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6

The Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6 is a guide developed by the NewClimate Institute, the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and the University of Oxford. It provides high-level direction and criteria for countries and entities participating in carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to ensure climate integrity, strong safeguards, and increased ambition, complementing existing international rules.

• The Oxford Principles establish three core principles to guide all actors—including host countries, buyer countries, buying entities, activity developers, and intermediaries—engaging in Article 6 activities: Paris-aligned use of mitigation outcomes, generation of high-quality mitigation outcomes, and robust accounting and transparency.
• To ensure that Article 6 raises climate ambition, the guide recommends that host countries and buying entities be on track to meet science-aligned net-zero targets before using Article 6. It further specifies that at least 5% of proceeds should be directed toward adaptation and at least 2% of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) should be cancelled.
• The principles require that mitigation outcomes and financial flows are not used to fund activities already listed under unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Additionally, buyer countries are urged to prioritize robust domestic action before utilizing Article 6 credits to prevent the deterrence of mitigation efforts.
• Climate integrity and social safeguards must be upheld through strong additionality thresholds, conservative quantification, and the prevention of double use and claiming. Socially, activities must include ongoing consultation with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, avoid harm to biodiversity and cultural heritage, and respect customary rights.
• Robust accounting and transparency are mandated for Article 6.2 cooperative approaches, requiring national GHG inventories and full NDC coverage. All actors must provide public information on the generation and use of ITMOs and carbon credits, including serial numbers and authorisation status.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2025). Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/oxford-principles-for-responsible-engagement-with-article-6

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6. 2025. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/oxford-principles-for-responsible-engagement-with-article-6.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6 |date=12 June 2025 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/oxford-principles-for-responsible-engagement-with-article-6 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2025oxford, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Oxford Principles for Responsible Engagement with Article 6}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/oxford-principles-for-responsible-engagement-with-article-6}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }