Article 6 Pipeline

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement provides a framework for countries to cooperate towards the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) through carbon markets (Articles 6.2 and 6.4) and non-market modalities (Article 6.8). These cooperative approaches can help countries to achieve and enhance their NDC targets. The overall objective is to increase climate ambition, promote sustainable development, and safeguard environmental integrity.  

Building on the extensive experience from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as a first step, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) has set up an Excel-based database for Article 6 activities. The aim is to provide insights on the development of Article 6 projects, their contribution to countries’ NDC implementation and SDG achievement at the national and global level. Find a short video introducing this work here. 

UNEP-CCC will continue expanding this pipeline’s functionality as new Article 6 projects emerge and the modalities become clearer. Ultimately, the pipeline will take the shape of a more interactive and user-friendly platform. This will provide transparency and allow users to easily explore information on cooperation under Article 6. Additional background on projects potentially transitioning to the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) under Article 6.4 Mechanism can be found in the CDM Pipeline and on the UNFCCC website.  

CDM activities that are eligible and have requested transition to the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (Article 6.4) 

The deadline for submitting requests has passed. In this explainer video, we examine those activities that intend to transition using CDM methodologies and outline the next steps. 

Video on the CDM Transition (08:30 minutes) – find the slide deck here

Of the potential reductions of around 1.5 billion tonnes of CO2e that eligible activities could generate after transition while using CDM methodologies, this could amount to more than 900 million tonnes (60%). 

For more details (such as submissions by host countries, regions, and activity types) please refer to the sheet Analysis | PACM in the A6 Pipeline.

Summary of the Article 6 Pipeline’s other components: 

     1. Overview of the Bilateral Agreements and pilot projects/activities under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement  

• There are 90 BAs between 56 different countries
• A total of 141 pilot projects have been recorded, out of which 119 belong to Japan’s Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).

Out of 141 pilot projects, 5 have Authorization Statements. The involved countries – Ghana (3x), Switzerland (4x), Thailand, Vanuatu – also submitted Initial Reports to the UNFCCC. The total expected amount of Mitigation Outcomes from these projects are:  

• Promotion of climate smart agriculture practices for sustainable rice cultivation in Ghana (Ghana-Switzerland | Authorized Reductions: 1,126 ktCO2e) 
• Bangkok E-Bus Program (Thailand-Switzerland | 500) 
• Electrification of Vanuatu’s Inhabited Islands through Solar Power ITMO Programme (Vanuatu-Switzerland | 97) 
• Integrated waste recycling and composting for methane reduction in Ghana (Ghana-Switzerland | 1,589)
• Transformative Cookstove Activity in Rural Ghana (Ghana-Switzerland | 3,231)

On 15 December 2023, the first ever issuance of 1,916 ITMOs (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes) occurred for the E-Bus Program in Bangkok covering the period from October to December 2022. This transaction between Thailand and Switzerland is the first under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. 

Blank cells mean that we have no knowledge of any dedicated Article 6 pilot projects between the two countries. Some countries that signed BAs do not yet publicly provide information on Article 6 pilot activities.   

    2. Overview of pilot projects/activities  

The identified pilot projects fall into following types:  

EE = Energy Efficiency
HFCs = Hydrofluorocarbons 

Out of the 141 pilot projects/activities, 77% have the host country in Asia, 13% in Africa, 6% in the Americas and 4% in Oceania.   

     3. Designated National Authorities for Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM)

Monthly news on Article 6 Pipeline: 

The August 2024 version of the Excel-based Article 6 Pipeline includes the following updates:

• The first Host Party Approvals were published for requests to transition from CDM to the Article 6.4 Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM).
• Integration of 198 Notifications of Prior Consideration from activity proponents who intend to participate in the PACM were integrated into the database.
• Inclusion of four MoUs between the Philippines and Singapore, between Zambia and Sweden, between Cambodia and South Korea, and between Kazakhstan and South Korea.
• Two projects based in Ghana were added. One activity aims to reduce charcoal consumption (complementing an existing electric cookstove project by the same developer) while another one plans to facilitate more sustainable palm oil production. A cookstove and sustainable biomass project in Malawi was removed from the database.