Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – July 17, 2024 – The Ministry of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Ecological Transition (MINEDDTE) of Cote d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), successfully organized a two-day capacity-building workshop on enhancing carbon market transactions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The two-day workshop aimed to boost the capabilities of national stakeholders in navigating the complexities of Article 6 transactions.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement outlines how countries can engage in cooperative approaches to achieve their climate targets. It enables international cooperation to tackle climate change and unlock financial support for developing countries. Under Article 6, countries can transfer Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) earned from reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions to help other countries meet their climate goals.

In Côte d’Ivoire this initiative, implemented by the National Authority of the Clean Development Mechanism (NA-CDM) with the technical assistance of GGGI, is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA). This collaborative effort highlights the commitment to accelerate Article 6 transactions at the international level as outlined in the Mobilizing Article 6 Trading Structures (MATS) program.

The workshop brought together over thirty-one participants, including members of the Article 6 Task Force from both the public and private sectors, civil society, and various sectoral ministries. It focused on the current state of carbon market implementation at international and national levels and addressed key considerations for the Government of Côte d’Ivoire regarding the structure of cooperation and transaction specifics under Article 6.

Mr. Abdoulaye Seck, Carbon Pricing Program Lead at GGGI, stated “This workshop highlights the strong engagement of Cote D’Ivoire and national stakeholders on Article 6, offering new opportunities to finance through carbon transactions additional mitigation action and enhancing climate action in the country.”

In Côte d’Ivoire, the MATS program is pivotal in assisting carbon market players prepare a robust portfolio of eligible projects under Article 6. It also supports two pilot mitigation activities, facilitating their integration into the international carbon market. Moreover, the program aids the Government of Côte d’Ivoire in effectively managing negotiation and trading processes for ITMOs under Article 6, thereby aligning cooperation efforts with the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Mr. Lagaud Mayeul, the Technical Advisor to the MINEDDTE, stated “The Paris Agreement offers unprecedented opportunities for developing countries like Côte d’Ivoire to actively participate in the international carbon market. Through international cooperation, we can not only achieve our greenhouse gas reduction targets but also mobilize financial and technological resources to support sustainable development.’’

GGGI will continue to support the MINEDDTE in simplifying the procedures contained in the Manual once the latter has been revised. Additionally, GGGI will assist Côte d’Ivoire’s government in the bilateral negotiations and in developing a pipeline of mitigation activities.