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The author contends that the EU must integrate shipping into its carbon market by 2023 because the IMO has postponed concrete actions, such as slow-steaming. The text highlights the significant emissions of the shipping sector and suggests that carbon pricing, potentially as a tax, could effectively reduce CO2 emissions and generate revenue for research and development.

The briefing argues that Article 6 must be designed to ensure overall emission reductions rather than mere shifting of emissions. It warns against the use of pre-2020 Kyoto Protocol credits and the risk of double counting between national mitigation objectives (NDCs) and schemes like CORSIA. The document advocates for the automatic partial cancellation of credits to move beyond zero-sum offsetting and calls for independent grievance mechanisms to prevent human rights violations seen under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA) has called for greater transparency in the ICAO Technical Advisory Body's (TAB) process for determining eligible offset programmes under CORSIA. ICSA argues that the current lack of transparency contradicts TAB's own Terms of Reference and undermines the credibility of the market-based measure. Specifically, ICSA demands the publication of public consultation inputs from summer 2019, the restoration of direct access to the Programme Testing Group's procedures and guidelines, and the public release of TAB's recommendations before the ICAO Council makes its final decision.

The document asserts that carbon border taxes must be contingent on the removal of free pollution permits under the EU ETS to avoid double-protecting industry and to provide a real incentive for emissions reductions. It argues that carbon leakage is not evidenced and that free allocations have historically functioned as subsidies. The author suggests that border measures should be temporary, non-protectionist, and complementary to global climate policies, while advocating for the use of enforceable environmental chapters in trade agreements to drive global ambition.

The document highlights the critical need for countries to reach an agreement on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement before COP25. It identifies four primary areas of contention: the transition of old Kyoto Protocol credits, the prevention of double counting through corresponding adjustments, the move away from offsetting logic toward true emission reductions, and the necessity of integrating social and environmental safeguards to protect human rights and support sustainable development.

Carbon Market Watch argues that Horizon Europe, with its 100 billion euro budget, should prioritize the decarbonization of the economy and exclude all fossil fuel-based research and innovation to support a transition to net-zero emissions by 2040.

The document highlights the disconnect between mass public demand for urgent climate action, evidenced by the September 20, 2019 strikes, and the lack of citizen engagement in the drafting of EU national energy and climate plans (NECPs). It asserts that current NECPs are insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals and calls for the establishment of permanent, multi-level public consultation platforms to ensure a rapid and just transition to zero-carbon societies.

The aviation sector lacks an official international climate target, with emissions growing exponentially and projected to increase by 300% by 2050 compared to 2015. The author criticizes CORSIA as a weak measure and warns that recognizing it as the sole global market-based measure could undermine the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).

The policy brief examines the interaction between the European Union's coal phase-out and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). It warns that closing coal plants without adjusting the ETS could create a 'coal bubble' of up to 6.18 billion excess permits by 2040, depressing carbon prices and undermining climate incentives. While the EU ETS supports the transition by making coal less profitable, the author argues it cannot deliver a full phase-out alone. The document recommends increasing the Market Stability Reserve (MSR) intake rate to 36% from 2024, increasing the Linear Reduction Factor to 4.2%, and allowing the cancellation of allowances for any closed ETS installation to maintain market effectiveness.

The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA) calls on Aarhus Convention Parties to address a lack of transparency in ICAO's work on CORSIA. The letter recommends that member countries push for open observer status, public meetings, public access to committee documents and Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), and the inclusion of public input in decision-making processes.

The document criticizes the veto by Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Hungary against the EU's long-term climate strategy, arguing that such political obstruction harms businesses by removing investment certainty. It highlights that energy-intensive industries—specifically steel, cement, and chemicals—account for approximately 40% of greenhouse gas emissions under the EU emissions trading system and have seen no decrease in pollution since 2012. The author asserts that a formal commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 is essential to signal a clear decarbonisation path, enable the development of financial frameworks, and inform the EU 2030 industrial strategy.

The briefing argues that Article 6 of the Paris Agreement must implement strong accounting rules to prevent double counting of emission reductions, particularly between national mitigation objectives (NDCs) and the CORSIA aviation scheme. It advocates for phasing out 'pure offsetting' in favor of overall emission reductions and warns against the use of old Kyoto Protocol credits after 2020. Additionally, the document emphasizes the need for local stakeholder involvement and independent grievance mechanisms to prevent the human rights violations seen under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Carbon Market Watch criticizes Shell's $300 million investment in tree planting and forestry offsets, arguing that such measures do not reduce emissions and are undermined by the company's continued lobbying against climate action and massive investment in oil and gas infrastructure over low-carbon alternatives.

The document assesses the failure of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to reduce emissions in heavy industry due to free pollution permits and inadequate sectoral plans. It proposes a transition based on electrification, circular economy models, and breakthrough technologies like hydrogen-based steelmaking, while calling for the phase-out of free allowances and the introduction of green public procurement.

The document criticizes the EU Emission Trading System (EU ETS) for granting excessive free pollution permits to heavy industry, citing court cases involving ArcelorMittal in Luxembourg and ExxonMobil in Germany as evidence of systemic abuse. It argues that lax 'carbon leakage' rules allow companies to profit from selling surplus permits while emissions remain stagnant, and advocates for a transition to a carbon-free industrial framework based on meaningful carbon pricing and innovation.

The briefing evaluates eight carbon offset programs—including CDM, VCS, and Gold Standard—against ICAO's Program Design Elements for CORSIA. It concludes that no program currently complies with all eligibility criteria, primarily due to uncertainties regarding international accounting rules to prevent double counting. Furthermore, the author argues that the Program Design Elements alone cannot exclude credits lacking environmental value, necessitating the application of the Carbon Offset Credit Integrity Assessment Criteria.

The International Coalition for Sustainable Aviation (ICSA) advocates for the strict adoption of the Emissions Unit Criteria (EUCs) to maintain the environmental integrity of CORSIA. The coalition warns that allowing double-counted emissions credits—where reductions are claimed by both airlines and host countries—would increase global emissions. ICSA recommends a vintage date restriction for eligible units to projects starting in 2020 or later to avoid the use of low-quality accumulated credits. Additionally, the letter demands greater transparency for the Technical Advisory Body (TAB), including public membership lists, conflict-of-interest declarations, and open meetings to prevent secret deals and ensure fair program eligibility assessments.

The document assesses the German Coal Commission's plan to be coal-free by 2038, noting that while it avoids up to 1.8 GtCO2e of emissions, it is insufficient to meet the 2°C target. It emphasizes that the EU-ETS is a vital but insufficient tool on its own, and warns of a "waterbed effect" where allowances from closed German plants are used by other EU entities unless they are explicitly cancelled. The author advocates for a "just transition" where public funds support affected workers and communities rather than compensating private shareholders of utility companies like RWE.

The German coal commission's plan to be coal-free by 2038 aims to avoid up to 1.8GtCO2e of emissions compared to a business-as-usual scenario. However, the author contends that the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) alone is insufficient to force a phase-out and warns that closing plants without cancelling permits allows other polluters to use them, known as the 'waterbed effect'. The document advocates for using public funds to support workers and communities in a Just Transition rather than compensating private shareholders of utilities like RWE.

Carbon Market Watch calls for the inclusion of independent grievance mechanisms and rights-based safeguards in the Article 6 implementation guidelines to prevent the human rights and environmental violations seen under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).