In the absence of a global 'rulebook' for carbon markets, the San José Principles describe how some Parties envision a fair and robust carbon market to be developed for high ambition and environmental integrity. Other activities to operationalise Article 6 are progressing as well. In October 2020, the governments of Peru and Switzerland agreed on the cooperative implementation of mitigation activities in Peru. The agreement establishes provisions that avoid double counting and safeguard environmental integrity and sustainable development impacts of GHG reductions.
Against this background, the Sustainable Development Initiative (SDI) by UNEP DTU Partnership and the Gold Standard Foundation have partnered with Wuppertal Institute to organize a virtual workshop to discuss options on how to ensure high ambition and integrity of future carbon markets in the absence of a rulebook. Party representatives, pilot programme managers and practitioners were invited to share outcomes and views on a high-level event on the San Jose principles hosted by Costa Rica, 30 October 2020. Moreover, the event provided firsthand information on the principles that guided the negotiations of the Article 6 agreement between Peru and Switzerland.
The workshop aimed at identifying and discussing ideas and opportunities to form a community of practice, which may evolve from the San José Principles and the agreement of Peru and Switzerland to guide ongoing pilot work by practitioners and inform a final outcome for an Article 6 rulebook expected at COP26 in Glasgow, 2021.
Workshop agenda
- Welcome and introductions (Christof Arens, Wuppertal Institute)
- Updates on the San José principles process - (Felipe de Leon, Costa Rica)
- Principles to ensure high ambition and integrity of GHG reductions: the bilateral Art. 6 agreement between Peru and Switzerland (Lorenzo Alejandro Eguren Ciurlizza, Ministry of Environment, Peru)
- Sharing of views - reactions to the updated principles and the agreement, how they can serve multiple objectives from different Party and stakeholder perspectives
- Ideas and options to promote sustainable development and form a community of practice based on the principles - (Sustainable Development Initiative, Karen Olsen, UNEP DTU Partnership)
- Q & A
- Conclusion and outlook (Christof Arens, Wuppertal Institute)
A video recording of the webinar can be viewed below: