Stephan Hoch presents on PACM at UNFCCC’s SB62

On June 18 2025, Perspectives co-organised a high-level side event at the UNFCCC’s SB62 meetings in Bonn, alongside the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The session was explored the question How can carbon markets unlock high-integrity carbon removals at scale?

Held under the banner of accelerating climate action ahead of COP30 in Belém, the event brought together leading voices from international finance, policy, and technical organisations. The discussion addressed the opportunities and challenges involved in scaling up carbon dioxide removal (CDR) within market mechanisms.

Stephan Hoch, Climate Policy expert and Managing Director at Perspectives, presented on the potential role of the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM) in mobilising carbon removals. He highlighted several key insights:

• Under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism, carbon removals were limited to afforestation and reforestation. The PACM, by contrast, is poised to enable a much wider range of CDR technologies and approaches.

• With new guidance for removals adopted at COP29 in Baku, the UNFCCC Secretariat is now developing methodological tools. The first PACM methodologies for removals are expected to be released in 2026.

• Realising the long-term climate potential of CDR hinges on strong investments in high-integrity methodologies from both governments and private actors, ensuring that PACM serves as a robust, accessible platform for removals.

The panel featured contributions from distinguished experts such as Moubarak Moukaila (BOAD), Gregor Sahler (GIZ), Michel Ardohain (European Commission), Dr Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola (Ministry of Environment, Kenya), with moderation by Esther Gabriele May (GIZ).