On April 16 2024, the SPAR6C programme conducted a webinar on the topic of “Developing an Article 6 Host Party Institutional Framework”. The aim of the webinar was to share the knowledge and experience of SPAR6C experts and to develop strategies and implementation plans tailored to local needs together with partners from GGGI and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs (BMWK). Representatives from existing host countries such as Senegal and Pakistan shared practical experiences and answered questions on implementation and lessons learnt.
Key takeaways from the webinar include the following:
· Article 6 requires robust institutional arrangement to effectively manage activities leading to high integrity mitigation outcomes aligned with the host countries' NDC goals.
· Article 6 functions cover at least three tiers of responsibilities, including coordination of the overarching approach, rule formulation and oversight, and implementation. These functions would typically be implemented at three levels, such as the inter-ministerial level (e.g., cabinet serving as the A6 policy body), lead ministry (e.g., acting as the A6 executive body), and lead ministry division (e.g., serving as the A6 administrator), but this may vary by country.
· Evaluating authorization requests is core of the authorization process for mitigation outcomes under A6.2, because of the significant implications for the country's NDC. Most countries will need a technical committee to conduct a thorough review of the proposed activity to ensure compliance with host party criteria and provide recommendations to the relevant decision-making authority.
· Laying out clear strategies and institutional frameworks that delineate roles, responsibilities, and functions will simplify the approach to Article 6. This could enable countries to delegate much of the workload to an A6 administrator.
· These frameworks can rely largely on existing capacities within the host party, including institutional arrangements for the CDM or national policies such as carbon pricing instruments. However, reviewing current laws and mandates as well as assessing personnel capacity and infrastructure is crucial to determine whether there is a need to develop or amend legal frameworks and devise capacity-building plans.
This webinar is part of a comprehensive SPAR6C webinar series in 2024 on the SPAR6C Toolbox, which was developed to address strategic alignment issues for governments and the private sector under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The toolbox includes six comprehensive guides that address global capacity building under Article 6.
Over the course of the year, further webinars will be organised to establish a link between the experts' specialist knowledge and the practical implementation of the projects. The aim is to strengthen the host countries and their stakeholders and encourage them to take action. Through the latest knowledge and regular exchange, the content of the webinars remains practical and relevant and acts as a catalyst for continuous education and engagement in the carbon market.
The next edition of the series on “Screening and Developing Article 6 Activities” will be held on June 18th 2024. Details we be shared soon at Carbon Mechanism’s events section and via social media.