The original document of the San Jose Principles for High Ambition and Integrity in International Carbon Markets reads as follows:

At the Pre-COP [25, in Costa Rica, in 2019], a large number of participants shared their expectations on what is needed to deliver a robust and ambitious outcome for Article 6. They were of the view that the implementation of the Paris Agreement must be firmly grounded in what the best available science tells us is necessary to deliver on the long-term temperature goal of the Agreement: the highest possible ambition in mitigation and adaptation.

As the end of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol approaches, there is an urgent need for clarity with regard to the future international framework for use of market-based approaches towards international climate goals.

They expressed support to the COP presidency, and to work together with others to secure an ambitious outcome in Madrid to deliver the following principles, through an Article 6 rule book that at minimum:

• Ensures environmental integrity and enables the highest possible mitigation ambition.
• Delivers an overall mitigation in global emissions, moving beyond zero-sum offsetting approaches to help accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• Prohibits the use of pre-2020 units, Kyoto units and allowances, and any underlying reductions toward Paris Agreement and other international goals.
• Ensures that double counting is avoided and that all use of markets toward international climate goals is subject to corresponding adjustments.
• Avoids locking in levels of emissions, technologies or carbon-intensive practices incompatible with the achievement of the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal.
• Applies allocation methodologies and baseline methodologies that support domestic NDC achievement and contribute to achievement of the Paris Agreement’s long-term temperature goal.
• Uses CO2-equivalence in reporting and accounting for emissions and removals, fully applying the principles of transparency, accuracy, consistency, comparability and completeness.
• Uses centrally and publicly accessible infrastructure and systems to collect, track, and share the information necessary for robust and transparent accounting.
• Ensures incentives to progression and supports all Parties in moving toward economy-wide emission targets.
• Contributes to quantifiable and predictable financial resources to be used by developing country Parties that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change to meet the costs of adaptation.
• Recognizes the importance of capacity building to enable the widest possible participation by Parties under Article 6.

They further recognize the importance of Article 6.8 in supporting Parties in the implementation of their NDCs through non-market approaches.

They invited other countries, multi-national and sub-national entities and multinational institutions to join us in the full operationalization of all the above principles, to support the highest possible ambition and environmental integrity.