Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake

The document examines the critical issues surrounding the finalization of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which governs international cooperation through carbon markets. It argues that strong rules are essential to prevent double counting and ensure additionality, as failures in these areas could increase global emissions and weaken Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Furthermore, the paper highlights that the design of Article 6 will influence the cost-effectiveness of emissions reductions, the flow of finance for climate activities, and the funding available for the adaptation fund through a share of proceeds.

• The operationalization of accounting rules is critical to preventing double counting; if emissions reductions are counted by more than one party, it could lead to a rise in global emissions and undermine the effectiveness of NDCs.
• The final rules for Article 6 will determine whether emissions reductions are 'additional'—meaning they would not have occurred without the Article—and the use of non-additional units would reduce the ambition of NDCs.
• Article 6 has the potential to drive more cost-effective emissions reductions and incentivize parties to increase the coverage of greenhouse gases and sectors in subsequent NDCs.
• The credibility of the carbon market established under Article 6 is essential for investor confidence and the flow of finance, and the rules will specifically affect funding for the adaptation fund via a share of proceeds.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake. https://www.wri.org/research/making-sense-article-6-key-issues-and-whats-stake

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/making-sense-article-6-key-issues-and-whats-stake.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake |url=https://www.wri.org/research/making-sense-article-6-key-issues-and-whats-stake |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendmaking, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Making Sense of Article 6: Key Issues and What's at Stake}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/making-sense-article-6-key-issues-and-whats-stake}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }