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SI Calls for Support to Advance Article 6 Implementation and Accelerate Climate Action in the Pacific

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Hon Manemahaga with other leaders at COP 29
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18 November 2024 | COP29, Moana Pavilion – Blue Zone The Solomon Islands, represented by the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management, and Meteorology (MECDM), Hon. Trevor Manemahaga, joined Pacific leaders and international partners in a pivotal ministerial panel hosted by New Zealand’s Minister of Climate Change, Hon. Simon Watts. The event, titled “Opportunities and Needs for Developing Cooperative Approaches under Article 6 to Accelerate Climate Action in the Pacific,” emphasized the critical role of Article 6 mechanisms in driving climate ambition and sustainable development.

The Solomon Islands reaffirmed its commitment to implementing Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which establishes a global framework for international cooperation on carbon markets and pricing through three main platforms, namely Voluntary cooperative approaches (Article 6.2); Facilitating project based carbon credits (Article 6.4) and Market Based Approaches (6.8).

Speaking at the side event, Hon Manemahaga pointed out that Solomon Islands views Article 6 as an opportunity to enhance climate ambition through the mechanisms provided for and has already implemented carbon trading projects.  Hon. Manemahaga further outlined key gaps hindering Solomon Islands’ effective participation in Article 6 mechanisms, including: Limited institutional and technical capacity to manage carbon credit projects, inadequate data on greenhouse gas emissions and forestry sector removals, outdated national policies and regulatory frameworks, insufficient financial resources.

He also highlighted that challenges such as economic dependence on fossil fuels, complex land tenure issues, and vulnerability to climate impacts further complicate the nation’s readiness for carbon markets.

Acknowledging support from the New Zealand Government and Irish Aid through the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Hon. Manemahaga updated that the Solomon Islands is developing its first-ever Carbon Trading Policy which  aims to provide clear guidance on participation in both voluntary and Article 6 markets while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders.

The Minister called for increased international support in the following areas: Financial and technical assistance for institutional and policy development; capacity-building initiatives to enhance national expertise in carbon market mechanisms and advanced technology access to improve monitoring, reporting, and verification processes.

The Solomon Islands emphasized the importance of ongoing negotiations under COP29 to establish a unified registry system for tracking carbon transactions; greed Electronic Formats for transparent reporting and clear rules, modalities, and procedures to guide participation.
The Solomon Islands also voiced concerns about the potential risks of authorization revocation and double counting, which could undermine the credibility of the Article 6 mechanism.

Hon. Manemahaga concluded by expressing gratitude to the New Zealand Government and other partners for their continued support. He emphasized that addressing these gaps and challenges is essential to enable the Solomon Islands to fully participate in Article 6 mechanisms and contribute to global climate action. “With the right partnerships and resources, the Solomon Islands can transform its challenges into opportunities, ensuring sustainable development and robust climate action for the Pacific region,” said Hon. Manemahaga.

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