Article 6 Catalyst

Why Asia Pacific

The Asia Pacific region contains 15% of the world’s tropical forests (including intact forests), 20% of the world’s biodiversity and roughly one third of the world’s coral reefs, alongside many other unique and irreplaceable ecosystems. In Southeast Asia alone, nature-based solutions hold extraordinary mitigation potential—representing 24 million hectares of peatlands, among the most carbon‑dense ecosystems— and holds a globally significant share of blue carbon ecosystems.

Asia Pacific is also home to hundreds of millions of people, with Southeast Asia comprising approximately 675 million. Many depend directly on nature for livelihoods, food security and cultural identity, and are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts. Rapid development and land-use pressures threaten these ecosystems and communities, but they also underscore the urgency of finding conservation solutions that can compete economically and socially.

For decades, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked across Asia Pacific to align climate action with conservation and community outcomes—combining science, policy, finance and on-the-ground partnership. By supporting countries, communities and markets to responsibly mobilize carbon finance—including through mechanisms like the Article 6 Catalyst—TNC is helping unlock the region’s immense nature-based potential while preserving its profound ecological value. 

Article 6 Catalyst:
Singapore's Leadership in High-Integrity Carbon Markets

The Paris Agreement paved the way for a new era of carbon trading. With the establishment of Article 6, countries can collaborate in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by trading carbon credits. Article 6 offers countries a way to invest in actions outside their borders and raise global ambition to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C. 

The Article 6 Catalyst is a Singapore-anchored initiative led by TNC to build a pipeline of feasibility-stage, high-integrity nature-based carbon projects aligned with Article 6. Initially supported by a grant from the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) Research and Innovation Scheme for Companies, the Catalyst will operate a hub in Singapore between October 2025 and September 2030, focusing on delivering high-quality feasibility studies, enabling Article 6 policy and readiness, investment pathways and developing local expertise in the carbon project life cycle.

This initiative addresses a critical market gap: while demand for Article 6-aligned credits is rising, there is a shortage of investment-ready, socially licensed and policy-aligned NbS projects. The feasibility stage—covering community engagement (including Free, Prior and Informed Consent), safeguards, science and integrity-based baselines, Measurement Reporting Verification (MRV) design, and host-country preparation and alignment—is underfunded but essential for ensuring long-term project integrity, scalability and investment readiness.

The Catalyst closes this gap by establishing a Singapore-based engine for project development, consistently delivering high-quality design outputs suitable for progression under Singapore’s Article 6 Implementation Agreements. Initial projects include community-led grassland and peatland management in Mongolia and regenerative grazing and grassland restoration in Patagonia, Chile, with active outreach for projects and government policy partnerships in Southeast Asia.

By embedding equity, Free, Prior and Informed Consent and community co-design at the feasibility stage, strengthening institutional and in-country capacity, and creating scalable templates for NbS project development, the Article 6 Catalyst directly advances TNC’s 2030 goals. Donor support will fully capitalize the platform, bridge the funding gap for project development, and establish Singapore as a regional hub for high-integrity NbS under Article 6—driving innovation, accelerating climate progress and ensuring measurable benefits for people and nature.

Outcomes, Measures and Leverage

The Article 6 Catalyst is designed to utilize NbS to deliver measurable, credible outcomes across climate mitigation, community empowerment, biodiversity and policy innovation—aligned with TNC’s 2030 Goals. Progress will be tracked using TNC’s official metrics, with transparent reporting and clear acknowledgment of uncertainties at the feasibility stage.

Climate Mitigation: Complete five high quality feasibility projects with robust science aligned to Article 6 guidance, including documented baselines and monitoring protocols.

Policy Innovation: Pilot host country Article 6 templates (authorization, benefit sharing, MRV alignment) in at least two contexts, creating replicable frameworks. Work with governments to approve and adopt high quality nature-based methodologies.

• 2030 Goal: Enable 1 MtCO₂e/yr of verified NbS mitigation through Article 6‑aligned projects supported by A6C policy innovation.

Community Empowerment:  Co-design projects with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) for long term climate, conservation, and resilience outcomes that center community interests, equity, local leadership and sustainability.

• 2030 Goal: 12,000 people benefit from improved governance, income opportunities or capacity building through Article 6 Catalyst support projects and partner-led initiatives.

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Health: Establish high-integrity baselines for biodiversity and ecosystem health (e.g., rangeland condition in Mongolia, habitat indicators in Chile).

• 2030 Goal: 390,000ha of forests, rangelands, peatlands, and mangroves under improved management. 

Financial Mobilization: Secure blended finance across the life cycle of carbon projects, using early-stage philanthropic funding to catalyze large-scale, long-term investment.

Learning & Replicability: Develop and share toolkits of feasibility methods (safeguards checklists, MEL templates, cost models, sample term sheets) across regions and with Singapore partners.