The South African Carbon Market Association (SACMA) recently hosted a live discussion on the implications of Article 6.2 implementation, where panellists set out practical considerations for African carbon project developers.

For C4 EcoSolutions, these considerations are directly relevant to our work on carbon projects across Africa and internationally, from scoping and feasibility through to implementation, MRV and credit issuance. Our priority throughout is that projects are technically robust, commercially viable and deliver real benefits for communities and the environment. Understanding the implications of Article 6 implementation is becoming increasingly relevant to how future projects are designed, financed and aligned with national climate priorities.

What did the discussion mean in practice for carbon project developers? Here are some of the key takeaways:

• BUILD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD FROM DAY ONE: robust baselines, conservative additionality and risk assumptions, strong MRV and well-managed data give projects the flexibility to move between markets without being rebuilt.
• DESIGN FOR OPTIONALITY: developers should avoid locking into a single market too early and, where possible, retain access to domestic compliance markets, the voluntary carbon market and Article 6.
• ASSESS NDC IMPLICATIONS’: before estimating transferable volumes, developers need to understand what a host government can realistically authorise for transfer without compromising achievement of its own NDC.
• ENGAGE GOVERNMENTS EARLY: early discussions with Designated National Authorities and relevant ministries can help developers understand national priorities, eligibility requirements and likely authorisation pathways.
• CORRESPONDING ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT A GUARANTEE OF QUALITY: they prevent double counting between countries, but project quality still depends on robust baselines, additionality, MRV, safeguards and verification.
• ALIGN CLIMATEAND DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES: successful projects combine emissions reductions with tangible social, environmental and economic benefits.
• VIEW PROJECTS ON COMMERCIAL TERMS: bankability, approval timelines, transaction costs and investor requirements matter as much as regulatory compliance.

The discussion underscored that carbon project readiness depends on more than rulebooks alone. Developers should prepare early, preserve market options, collaborate with the right experts and build projects that are both high-integrity and investable.

Thank you to SACMA and the panellists for an insightful discussion on the future of Article 6 in Africa.