Singapore’s National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS), together with leading voluntary carbon market standards Gold Standard and Verra, has released the final Article 6.2 Crediting Protocol, establishing a consistent framework for governments to use independently issued carbon credits to meet their climate commitments.
The protocol is designed to support countries implementing Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, which enables international cooperation through market-based mechanisms to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). By using credits certified under established independent standards—rather than developing national systems from scratch—governments can access credible emissions reductions while avoiding costly administrative burdens.
The new protocol sets out harmonised procedures for authorisation, labelling, reporting and accounting of carbon credits used for Article 6.2 transactions. It aims to strengthen transparency, reduce market and regulatory uncertainty, and ensure environmental integrity across international carbon markets.
Built through a two-year, multi-stakeholder process
The concept for the protocol was first announced at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. Initial recommendations were released at COP29 in Baku in 2024 to guide governments on mitigating risks linked to Article 6.2 implementation.
The final version integrates outcomes from the COP29 Article 6.2 rulebook and reflects extensive consultation with governments, independent standards, and carbon market participants throughout 2024–2025. It is designed to complement future updates to Article 6.2 guidance as the global carbon market evolves.
Key features of the Article 6.2 Crediting Protocol
- Clear delineation of responsibilities for governments, independent standards and project developers
- Standardised procedures for authorisation, first transfer, retirement and corresponding adjustments
- Consistent labelling of Article 6 status within independent standards’ registries
- Reporting guidelines to help governments meet Article 6 transparency requirements
- Recommended practices for boosting efficiency and integrity in cross-border cooperation
Next steps: pilot projects and further refinement
Over the next year, NCCS, Gold Standard and Verra will work with governments and market actors to pilot and operationalise the protocol, including exploring an appropriate governance framework.
Future updates may expand guidance on ITMO identifiers, management of shares of proceeds (SOP), overall mitigation of global emissions (OMGE) and the establishment of a standardised data protocol, ensuring alignment with evolving Article 6.2 rules.
