Maldives Issues first ITMOs under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement

The Republic of Maldives successfully completed the first international transfer of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement through the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), marking a significant milestone in bilateral climate cooperation and the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The transfer follows the Fifth Joint Committee Meeting of the Maldives–Japan JCM,held on 16 December 2025 during which both governments approved the issuance of JCM credits and adopted revised rules and guidelines aligned with the requirements of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The ITMOs were generated by the "Introduction of Smart Mini Grid System at Addu City (JCM-MV002)" project, which deployed a smart mini-grid integrating renewable energy technologies to reduce reliance on diesel-generated electricity. Maldives completed the first international transfer of 433 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e). This represents the second JCM partner country, following Thailand, to complete the issuance and international transfer of JCM credits as ITMOs under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Through targeted technical assistance and capacity-building activities, the Paris Agreement Article 6 Implementation Partnership (A6IP) Center supported the Government of Maldives in preparing and submitting its Initial Report to the UNFCCC Secretariat. This support contributed to strengthening Maldives's institutional readiness for implementing Article 6 cooperative approaches, thereby helping establish the institutional foundation for the country's first international transfer of ITMOs under the JCM.

The transaction demonstrates the operationalization of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, under which countries can cooperate by transferring verified emission reductions while ensuring environmental integrity through corresponding adjustments that prevent double counting. By authorizing the transfer, the Maldives confirms that the associated emission reductions will not be counted toward its own NDC, allowing Japan to account for them transparently toward its climate commitments.

For the Maldives, the successful authorization showcases the country's readiness to participate in high-integrity international carbon markets while attracting investment in clean energy infrastructure. For Japan, the transfer further validates the JCM as a practical mechanism for supporting partner countries' decarbonization efforts while contributing to its own emissions reduction targets.

The A6IP Center remains committed to supporting partner countries through technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge sharing to advance high-integrity implementation of cooperative approaches under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.