<article><p class="lead">Informal talks designed to further negotiations on key issues to be resolved at the next UN climate summit, Cop 26, produced limited results and must be followed up with further cooperation, the EU has said.</p><p>A <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2206151">three-week virtual meeting</a> was held over 31 May-17 June to advance negotiations in preparation for Cop 26, which is due to take place in Glasgow in November. The UN specified in April that no decisions would be adopted during the informal discussions.</p><p>The EU in its closing statement termed the discussions a "step forward". But the bloc warned that on Article 6 of the Paris climate agreement "key differences remain between Parties that can only be resolved at a political level".</p><p>Article 6 is designed to enable voluntary international cooperation on climate action. It is one of the key areas for negotiation at Cop 26, following Paris deal signatories' failure to reach a consensus on the article's rulebook at previous UN climate summits. </p><p>Disagreements on the Article 6 rules have revolved mainly around how to avoid the "double counting" of internationally traded carbon offsets towards countries' climate goals, as well as whether or not to transfer pre-2021 issued credits to the new offset system.</p><p>"If we are to find common ground on these matters, technical exchanges must continue in the coming months and we appeal to Parties' continued constructive engagement," the EU said. "There is still plenty of work ahead if we are to arrive in Glasgow fully prepared to take decisions essential to the implementation of the Paris Agreement by all Parties."</p><p>The International Emissions Trading Association (Ieta) expressed its disappointment at the lack of progress made in the talks. "The sessions did little to advance the substantive work, because many Parties simply restated old positions and reopened issues that were near closure at the last Cop in Madrid [in 2019]," Ieta chief executive Dirk Forrister said.</p><p>"Ieta hopes that in the wake of this session, Parties will continue bilateral discussions to prepare the ground for a positive outcome in Glasgow," he added.</p><p>Leaders of the G7 nations earlier this month reaffirmed their support for "high-integrity carbon markets", but <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2224471">backed away from any clarification on their approach to double counting carbon offsets</a>.</p><p class="bylines"><i>By Victoria Hatherick</i></p></article>
