Myanmar carbon credit project under Article 6.4 faces scrutiny over junta links and conflict risks

A coalition of environmental and human rights groups has raised concerns about the first carbon credits issued under the Paris Agreement's Article 6.4 mechanism. The project, a cookstove initiative in Myanmar run by South Korea's Climate Change Centre, received credits in February 2026. Critics say it operated through junta-controlled institutions after the 2021 coup and in conflict zones like Sagaing, where airstrikes and displacement are widespread. The report also questions the integrity of the credits. Previous research suggested the cookstove project was over-credited under earlier carbon market rules, and auditors did not conduct site visits in conflict areas due to security concerns, relying instead on remote interviews. The groups are calling for a suspension of further credit issuance and an independent review. This case tests whether the Paris Agreement's new carbon market can deliver transparency and accountability in conflict-affected settings. The outcome could set a precedent for how high-integrity credits are verified and enforced when projects are located in unstable regions.