Switzerland approves two article 6 agreements

Switzerland's federal government today gave the green light to two agreements on the basis of article 6 of the Paris climate agreement — with Senegal and Vanuatu.

The agreements will help Switzerland reach its climate targets, the government said. Switzerland has committed to halving its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared with 1990 levels.

Article 6 is designed to enable voluntary international co-operation on climate action through market and non-market mechanisms. A final agreement is yet to be reached on the article's rulebook.

Switzerland last year signed two article 6 agreements with Peru and Ghana — the former, in October, was a world first. Switzerland signed an initial agreement with Thailand for a partnership under the article last month.

In Senegal, Swiss aid will focus on installing biogas sites on farms, to reduce the use of firewood and charcoal, Switzerland's environment and energy ministry said. Climate change is already reducing revenues in Senegal's agricultural sector, the ministry noted.

In Vanuatu, Switzerland will support renewable generation on islands unconnected to a power grid, for instance with solar panels. Vanuatu's very existence is in danger from rising sea levels, and the archipelago is repeatedly subjected to devastating tropical storms as a consequence of climate change, the ministry said.

Switzerland has created, with its partnerships, a "standard" for international climate projects, according to the ministry. Both parties in the partnerships pledge to adopt a method preventing double counting of emission reductions. Ongoing monitoring ensures that the projects comply with specified criteria, the ministry said.

By Chloe Jardine