파리협정 6.2조 협력적 접근 하 우리나라 자체적 국제 탄소시장 메커니즘에 대한 환경건전성 개념 적용 방향 고찰

Abstract

Under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, parties can engage in cooperative approaches that involve internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs) to achieve targets in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). In cooperative approaches, environmental integrity as a principle should be ensured. Although there is a certain degree of latitude in the definitions of environmental integrity, under the Paris Agreement, it is defined as no net increase in global aggregate greenhouse gas emissions after international transfers of ITMOs within and between NDC implementation periods. In 2022, Korea began to establish a ‘bilateral cooperation framework’ with its own specific rules and guidelines for cooperative approaches. Because environmental integrity is a principled concept, it is crucial to reflect environmental integrity in the design of bilateral cooperation framework. This paper questions i) what elements best reflect environmental integrity and ii) what specific rules should be chosen in each element for environmental integrity. To answer these questions, this paper extracts the elements that influence environmental integrity from previous literature and policy discussions. These elements are classified into four categories: i) ITMO generation, ii) ITMO transfer, iii) ITMO cancellation, and iv) ITMO proceeds. This paper utilizes the existing and upcoming carbon offset systems of the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism, the Japan-led Joint Crediting Mechanism, and the Swiss-led ITMO purchase agreement to identify and compare rules regarding these elements of environmental integrity. Then, this paper explores Korea’s position on appropriate rule-setting in the institutional design of a bilateral cooperation framework. This paper concludes by summarizing policy implications for the appropriate paths forward considering Korea’s application of the principle of environmental integrity in its own global carbon market system.