New Paper by AFRY, Oxford & Nasdaq Lays Out Joint-Claim Rules for Article 6 Carbon Neutralisation

New Paper by AFRY, Oxford & Nasdaq Lays Out Joint-Claim Rules for Article 6 Carbon Neutralisation

(IN BRIEF) In their new working paper, AFRY, the University of Oxford, and Nasdaq set out a tenet-based framework for “neutralisation claims” under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Recognising that the carbon removal sector must grow exponentially by mid-century to maintain the 2°C target, the paper—crafted by Dr Mostyn Brown, Dr Injy Johnstone, and Tomas Thyblad with input from New York Climate Week and COP29 participants—advocates allowing both nations and companies to co-claim removal credits under rigorous standards. The authors recommend treating permanent carbon removal as a global waste-management service necessitating public–private cooperation; adhering to the EU’s QU.ALITY benchmarks to ensure new removals complement existing commitments; decoupling removal targets from emissions accounting with transparent site and price disclosures; and streamlining cross-border credit trading. These measures are designed to clarify market rules, mobilise investment, and scale up carbon removal efforts rapidly.

(PRESS RELEASE) SOLNA, 26-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — AFRY, the University of Oxford, and Nasdaq have joined forces to author a working paper delineating core guidelines for neutralisation claims under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. As the carbon removal market must expand a thousand fold by 2050 to keep warming below 2°C, global geopolitical shifts increasingly compel major corporations to shoulder more of the net-zero burden—and eliminate any market ambiguities that might stall investment.

Titled “Neutralisation Claims in the Era of Article 6,” the paper—compiled by Dr Mostyn Brown, Dr Injy Johnstone, and Tomas Thyblad with stakeholder insights from New York Climate Week and COP29—proposes a shared-claim model. Under this framework, both sovereign nations and private entities can jointly claim carbon removal credits, provided they adhere to stringent principles designed to safeguard integrity and drive new carbon removal capacity.

Key recommendations include:

• Treating Permanent Carbon Removal as a Global Waste Service: Governments and corporations must collaborate to sequester residual fossil emissions effectively.
• Upholding EU QU.ALITY Standards: Neutralisation outcomes should comply with the EU’s quality criteria, ensuring that funding catalyzes fresh carbon removal projects without undermining existing reduction pledges.
• Separating Removal Targets from Emissions Accounting: Entities should track removals independently of their emission-reduction goals, with each credit claimed by a single actor. Transparency is bolstered by disclosing the physical removal site and the average price per ton.
• Enabling Seamless Cross-Border Transactions: Removing regulatory frictions will unlock international cooperation, scaling carbon removals more efficiently.

By establishing these foundational principles, the authors aim to eliminate confusion, accelerate capital flow, and foster cohesive action among governments and corporations worldwide.

Recommendations

1. Permanent carbon removal should be managed as a global waste disposal service, necessitating cooperation between governments and corporates to effectively neutralise fossil-based emissions.
2. Neutralisation outcomes must adhere to the EU’s QU.ALITY criteria and ensure that financing drives new supply without diminishing existing commitments.
3. Removal target setting and accounting should be kept separate from accounting of emissions and emissions reduction targets, ensuring one actor claims the neutralisation outcome, with disclosure of the physical location and volume-weighted average price supporting transparency in climate claims.
4. Frictionless international cooperation can maximise efficiency and scale through cross-border transactions.

Media Contact:

Mostyn Brown
Principal, AFRY Management Consulting
Tel: +44 7854 518785

SOURCE: AFRY