Apply for authorisation of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes

To get carbon credits authorised, a sustainability report is required. This report should be based on the Supervisory Body’s Sustainable Devlopment tool for Article 6.4 or an equivalent tool based on a sustainability policy approved by the Swedish Energy Agency.

Through these reports, we receive valuable information about the mitigation activities' contributions to sustainable development and any negative effects. This also forms the basis for Sweden's reporting on Article 6 to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

We recommend that the sustainability report be prepared using one of the following options:

1. The sustainability report is prepared using the Supervisory Body’s sustainability reporting tool for Article 6.4
   Article 6.4 sustainable development tool (pdf, unfccc.int)
2. The sustainability report is prepared using a corresponding tool equivalent to the tool in (1), based on the Swedish Energy Agency’s sustainability policy.
   The Swedish Energy Agency's sustainability policy with sustainable development tool (pdf in Swedish)
3. The sustainability report is prepared using a corresponding tool equivalent to the tool in (1), based on an internally developed sustainability policy; in this case, an application must first be submitted to have this sustainability policy approved. The requirement is that the policy is based on a tool equivalent to the Supervisory Body’s sustainability reporting tool for Article 6.4.

Note: If the sustainability report is incomplete or does not meet the requirements, emission reduction units cannot be authorised or approved.

Third-Party review requirement of the sustainability report

The sustainability report must be reviewed by an independent verifier, i.e. a third party that holds an accreditation under the Article 6.4 mechanism as Designated Operational Entity (DOE) within the projects relevant sectoral scope.

Accreditation (unfccc.int)

The Swedish Energy Agency will assess whether all requirements have been fulfilled.

A self-developed sustainability policy must first be approved by the Swedish Energy Agency and must meet the requirements of the UNFCCC’s sustainability tool for Article 6.4. To be approved, the policy must comply with the sustainability requirements of the Paris Agreement, including to:

• minimize and avoid negative environmental impacts
• respect human rights and social aspects
• contribute to the host country’s sustainable development goals.

An application for approval of a sustainability policy may be submitted by:

• a host country
• a generating entity
• a purchasing entity.

Those seeking approval of their sustainability policy for their sustainability report are recommended to submit it early in early stage of the application process. A sustainability policy should be approved before the generating entity, or another authorised entity, submits an application for authorisation of emission reduction units.

Submit your application by email: DNAA6A@energimyndigheten.se.

Or by post:

Swedish Energy Agency
Att: Designated National Authority for Article 6-Authorisation
Box 310, 631 04 Eskilstuna

For an internationally transferred mitigation outcome (ITMO) to be authorised and subsequently transferred, a third party must verify that the reduction has taken place. Such third parties must possess specific competencies and must therefore first be approved by the Swedish Energy Agency.

An application for authorisation and approval of ITMOs must include a validation or verification report. This report must be prepared by a third party approved by the Swedish Energy Agency.

When ITMOs are authorised through ex ante-authorisation, validation of the project plan for the activity from which the ITMOs originate, is required. Once the ITMOs have been generated, they must also be approved before they can be transferred. When applying for approval, verification of the emission reductions is required. When ITMOs are authorised through ex post-authorisation, verification of the emission reductions is requested at the time of authorisation.

An organisation seeking approval as a third party for validation and verification must apply for approval to the Swedish Energy Agency. The application must be submitted by the organisation itself.

The application must include:

1. Contact details for a contact person at the validation and verification body
2. The name of the organisation as listed on the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) website for Article 6.4-accredited organisations.

Accreditation AE/DOE (unfccc.int)

To be approved as a third party by the Swedish Energy Agency, the organisation must be accredited under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement.

An approval decision as a third party is valid for 12 months. The decision is conditional upon the organisation maintaining a valid Article 6.4 accreditation throughout the entire approval period. Furthermore, the decision is conditional upon the organisation only submitting validations and verifications within the sectoral scopes for which it holds Article 6.4 accreditation.

Accreditation DOE Sectoral Scopes (unfccc.int)

It is not a requirement to be approved as a third party by the Swedish Energy Agency before initiating a validation or verification. However, the Agency recommends that organisations obtain approval before beginning such activities. Approval granted after a validation or verification has already started does not affect the assessment of the application for third-party approval or the assessment of an application for authorisation of emission reductions.

Submit your application by email:
DNAA6A@energimyndigheten.se

or by post:
Swedish Energy Agency
Att: Designated National Authority for Article 6-Authorisation
Box 310, 631 04 Eskilstuna

In an ex ante authorisation, the application is submitted before the carbon credits have been generated. Once the carbon credits exist and are to be transferred, they must also be approved. An application for ex ante authorisation of carbon credits must include:

1. a certificate showing the host country's authorisation of the carbon credits, and
2. a validation of the activity producing the carbon credits from a third party approved by the Swedish Energy Agency, and
3. information on the number of carbon credits to be authorised, and
4. information on the intended use of the carbon credits, and
5. a current sustainability report, and
6. information on the buyer's name, address, organisation number, and phone number if there is a buyer in Sweden.

If the buyer's name, address, organization number, or phone number change, the entity or the person who applied for authorisation on behalf of the entity must notify the Swedish Energy Agency of the new information.

Application for ex ante authorisation of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (pdf)

Approval of carbon credits previously ex ante authorised

Only carbon credits that have been previously ex ante authorised can be approved. For carbon credits that have been generated but lack ex ante authorisation, see ex post authorisation.

An application for the approval of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes must include:

1. a certificate showing the host country's approval of the carbon credits, and
2. a verification of the emission reductions from a third party approved by the Swedish Energy Agency, and
3. information on the number of generated carbon credits to be approved, and
4. a current sustainability report.

Application for approval after ex ante authorisation of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (pdf)

In an ex post authorisation, the application is submitted after the carbon credits have been generated. An application for ex post authorisation of carbon credits must include:

1. a certificate showing the host country's authorisation of the carbon credits, and
2. a verification of the emission reductions from a third party approved by the Swedish Energy Agency, and
3. information on the number of generated carbon credits to be authorized, and
4. information on the intended use of the carbon credits, and
5. a current sustainability report.

If the buyer's name, address, organisation number, and phone number change, the entity or the person who applied for authorisation on behalf of the entity must notify the Swedish Energy Agency of the new information.

Application for ex post authorisation of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (pdf)