ARTICLE 6.2

Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement introduces the framework for cooperative approaches enabling actors, primarily countries, to generate and trade in internationally trade mitigation outcomes (ITMO). As there is no definition of what a cooperative approach consists of, there is significant latitude concerning what could generate an ITMO

Key developments to date:

  • Core Rules, Modalities & Procedures: The framework decision on Article 6.2 was established at COP26 in Glasgow
  • Emergence of Bilateral Agreements: Since COP26, until November 2025 over 102 real-world bilateral agreements under Article 6.2 have emerged in the form of memoranda of understanding (MOUs)
  • Technical Capacity Building: In parallel many countries and initiatives have sought to provide capacity and technical readiness to engage in Article 6.2 transactions
  • The first cycle of reporting and technical expert review has commenced
  • The UNFCCC Secretariat has launched tools such as the Centralised Accounting and Reporting Platform (CARP) and an international registry for ITMOs, which enable tracking and reporting of cooperative approaches in support of the Enhanced Transparency Framework
  • 30 different cooperative approaches have been registered as of October 2025

This Article 6 Observatory is designed to track progress on Article 6.2: how countries are preparing, the rules and reporting frameworks being developed, the real-world transactions beginning to emerge, and their integrity. It provides accessible, up-to-date information, analysis and resources for policymakers, project developers, civil-society stakeholders and anyone tracking global carbon market developments under the Paris regime via this page.

By illuminating the evolution of Article 6.2 cooperative approaches, the Article 6 Observatory seeks to support transparency, robust governance and assess ambition in the role of cooperative approaches in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goal of keeping temperatures to 1.5 degrees, well below 2 degrees.

For the latest analysis of what happened at COP30 under Article 6.2 see these insights: