Islamabad, Pakistan, April 01, 2026 – Norway and Pakistan have advanced their cooperation on international carbon trading under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by signing a landmark bilateral agreement.

With the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)’s Carbon Transaction Facility (CTF) helping to facilitate this cooperation, this agreement enables the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment (NMCE) and Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) to implement ambitious and impactful climate actions through international carbon transactions aligned with Article 6, supporting global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. 

This new partnership is established under the Norwegian Global Emission Reduction (NOGER) Initiative, launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. Through NOGER, Norway seeks to support the development of additional, high-integrity emission reductions in partner countries. To date, Norway has signed cooperation agreements with Benin, Indonesia, Jordan, Senegal, and Zambia through the Norwegian Article 6 Climate Action (NACA) Fund, hosted under the CTF. 

“We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with Pakistan. Through this partnership, we will collaborate on programs that reduce emissions and generate carbon credits, while attracting private investments and creating green jobs in Pakistan. The world needs more collaboration like this to address the urgent challenge of climate change.” said Norway’s Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen.

Since 2022, Pakistan’s readiness to fully harness international carbon markets under Article 6 has been furthered with the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program, a German-funded program under its International Climate Initiative (IKI). SPAR6C is operated by a consortium led by GGGI and with UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center serving as the implementing partner in Pakistan.  

Following the notification of Pakistan’s Policy Guidelines for Trading in Carbon Markets in December 2024, the Government of Pakistan has been actively working to translate policy into practice. Sustained technical guidance from close engagement with SPAR6C has helped it streamline authorization processes and develop the Rules that further strengthen the policy framework. This marks an important milestone in enhancing Pakistan’s readiness to participate in cooperative approaches under Article 6, including the newly signed bilateral agreement with Norway.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Norway’s Ambassador to Pakistan Per Albert Ilsaas said the accord marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral environmental cooperation and that this agreement enables Pakistan to sell high-integrity carbon credits to Norway, with support from partners like GGGI to develop projects in renewable energy, agriculture, and waste management.

Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Musadik Malik termed the agreement a “historic milestone”, saying it would shift Pakistan from carbon market preparedness to practical implementation.

“This is Pakistan’s first bilateral agreement under Article 6.2 and an important step towards implementation and creates a credible pathway for international cooperation and investment in Pakistan’s climate priorities,” Mr Malik said.

Mr Malik said the agreement would strengthen Pakistan’s position in international carbon markets and create new opportunities for the country’s emerging green economy. The climate minister said Pakistan had already put in place the country’s first national policy guidelines for carbon trading, approved by the federal cabinet in January 2025, and was now moving to establish rules, reporting systems and bilateral arrangements needed to operationalize the market.

Following the signing of the agreement, the SPAR6C program will continue to play a pivotal role in supporting Pakistan by developing Article 6 carbon project documentation for several high-integrity mitigation activities, ensuring their readiness for future carbon transactions under Article 6 and the bilateral agreement between Norway and Pakistan.

As these activities are identified, and subject to Norway and Pakistan deciding to move forward, GGGI will support the development of Mitigation Outcome Purchase Agreements (MOPAs)—the commercial contracts that underpin carbon transactions. Overall, this collaborative approach highlights how GGGI is facilitating effective climate cooperation between Pakistan and Norway while setting a benchmark for environmental integrity and additionality in carbon trading.

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) 

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 53 Member States and 30 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 53 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning and implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.   

About the Carbon Transaction Facility 

The Carbon Transaction Facility (CTF) is a country-driven mechanism that enables governments and private sector, particularly in developing countries and emerging economies, to engage meaningfully in Article 6 carbon markets. By uniquely combining strong preparedness support with structured transaction facilitation, the CTF offers a full-cycle pathway, evolving readiness into results, to access and benefit from international carbon market mechanisms. The CTF facilitates partnerships, supporting host countries in implementing climate action while also helping buyers advance their climate commitments. As a technical enabler and trusted partner, the CTF helps drive forward transparent, high-integrity, and inclusive carbon transactions aligned with the Paris Agreement. The CTF is comprised of the Article 6 Readiness Facility, a multi-donor fund to provide readiness support, as well as two Carbon Funds: the Article 6 Climate Cooperation Fund (ACCTIF) opened by Sweden, and the Norwegian Article 6 Climate Action (NACA) Fund opened by Norway, aiming to accomplish carbon transactions.  

About the Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C) program 

The Supporting Preparedness for Article 6 Cooperation (SPAR6C [:spark]) program enables stakeholders in Colombia, Pakistan, Thailand, and Zambia to become prepared to engage in carbon transactions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. SPAR6C program provides decision support to government counterparts on Article 6 strategy and governance frameworks, capacity building for private sector, and technical assistance to identify and prepare mitigation activities which could serve as the basis for Article 6 transactions. In addition to in-country support, SPAR6C program hosts a global knowledge exchange platform, the “Community of Practice for Article 6 Implementing Countries” or CoP-ASIC. The program is implemented by a consortium of experts, led by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), with delivery partners Carbon Limits, GFA Consulting Group (GFA), Kommunalkredit Public Consulting (KPC), and UN Environment Programme’s Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEPCCC). SPAR6C is a five-year program (2022–2026) funded by the German government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI). In Pakistan specifically, SPAR6C activities are coordinated by UNEP-CCC.