From VCM to Article 6: Leveraging carbon markets to scale agricultural payments for ecosystem services

This policy brief explores how PES can be leveraged through the VCM and aligned with Article 6 to scale agriculture projects, with agroforestry7 in Ethiopia serving as an illustrative example. Drawing on global best practices, it highlights opportunities, challenges, and policy recommendations to align finance, governance, and equity considerations in building sustainable carbon market participation. The resulting roadmap outlines a practical pathway to scale agricultural mitigation toward Article 6 readiness. It focuses on three pillars: aligning national policies and carbon rights, ensuring environmental integrity through high-quality standards and digital MRV, and embedding equity and capacity building.