[Title] Bilateral Cooperation on the Joint Crediting Mechanism for the Low Carbon Growth Partnership between Japan and the Kingdom of Thailand

1. The Japanese side and the Thai side (hereinafter referred to as "both sides"), in pursuit of the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention") as stated in its Article 2 and of achieving sustainable development, and in order to continue to address climate change in cooperation, promote the Low Carbon Growth Partnership as follows.

2. Both sides hold close policy consultations at various levels for cooperation toward low carbon growth under the United Nations, at the regional and bilateral frameworks, including the East Asia Low Carbon Growth Partnership.

3. Both sides, in order to promote investment and deployment of low carbon technologies, products, systems, services and infrastructure to achieve low carbon growth in Thailand, establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (hereinafter referred to as the "JCM") and implement it in accordance with the relevant domestic laws and regulations in force in respective countries.

4. Both sides establish the Joint Committee to operate the JCM.

(1) The Joint Committee consists of representatives from both sides.

(2) Rules of procedures of the Joint Committee, including its membership, are formulated through consultations between both sides.

(3) The Joint Committee develops rules and guidelines regarding the JCM, methodologies to quantify the amount of greenhouse gases emission reductions or removals, requirements for the designation of third-party entities, and other matters relating to the implementation and administration of the JCM as necessary.

(4) The Joint Committee convenes meetings on regular basis to evaluate the implementation of the JCM.

5. Both sides mutually recognize that verified reductions or removals from the mitigation projects under the JCM can be used as a part of their own internationally pledged greenhouse gases mitigation efforts.

6. Both sides ensure the robust methodologies, transparency and the environmental integrity of the JCM and maintain the JCM simple and practical, to promote concrete actions for global greenhouse gases emissions reductions or removals.

7. Neither side uses any mitigation projects registered under the JCM for the purpose of any other international climate mitigation mechanisms to avoid double counting on greenhouse gases emission reductions or removals.

8. Both sides will work in close cooperation to facilitate financial support necessary for the implementation of the JCM. The Japanese side will facilitate technological and capacity building support to the Thai side for the implementation of the JCM.

9. The JCM starts its operation as the non-tradable credit type mechanism. Both sides continue consultation for the transition to the tradable credit type mechanism and reach a conclusion of such consultation at the earliest possible timing, taking into account the implementation of the JCM.

10. Both sides aim for concrete contributions to assisting adaptation efforts of developing countries through the JCM after the JCM is converted to the tradable credit type mechanism.

11. This Bilateral Cooperation covers the period until a possible coming into effect of a new international framework under the Convention. Both sides consider possible extension of this bilateral cooperation and reach a conclusion before its termination, taking into account, inter alia, the progress made in the United Nations negotiations on climate change.

12. Any content of this Bilateral Cooperation is modified only by mutual written consent between both sides.

13. This Bilateral Cooperation is not legally binding and does not create any obligations.

Signed in Tokyo on 19 November 2015, in two originals in the English language.

Tamayo Marukawa
Minister of the Environment
Japan

General Surasak Karnjanarat
Minister of Natural Resources
and Environment
The Kingdom of Thailand