The UN Body responsible for establishing a new global carbon market took a historic step reinforcing the protection of environmental and social human rights.
Chair of the Supervisory Body Maria Al Jishi described the decisions as a defining moment.
“With the introduction of the Appeals and Grievances Procedure, we’re establishing new avenues to empower vulnerable communities and individuals, ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are upheld,” she said.
The new safeguards allow people affected by activities under the mechanism to appeal decisions or file a grievance. This is a crucial step towards developing a new international carbon market that sets the benchmark for high integrity carbon credits.
“I feel a sense of relief that after years of debate on appeals, we have finally delivered a robust system; one that holds us accountable for our decisions and ensures the activities we approve are responsible for their impacts,” added Vice Chair Martin Hession.
“In a world where the rule of law and human rights are under threat, I’m not a little proud that we have played our small part in upholding these fundamental principles.”
The Appeals and Grievances Procedure has immediately come into effect, marking a significant milestone in the operationalization of the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism.
Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement established a new international carbon crediting mechanism.
The Article 6.4 mechanism, also known as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism, has a Supervisory Body tasked with developing and supervising the requirements and processes needed to operationalize the mechanism.
This includes developing and/or approving methodologies, registering activities, accrediting third-party verification bodies, and managing the Article 6.4 Registry.
The Supervisory Body is fully accountable to the Parties to the Paris Agreement(CMA).
By Dare Akogun
