Norway and Switzerland signed a bilateral agreement during the Longship Launch event in Oslo to strengthen cross-border cooperation on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR).

The agreement builds on a Declaration of Intent signed in May 2024 and marks a step forward in international cooperation on CCS and CDR through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It establishes a legal framework for the cross-border transport and permanent storage of CO2, as well as for the transfer of mitigation outcomes between the two countries.

This agreement is a first of its kind between two industrialized countries under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

“The storage of CO2 will also be important for Switzerland on the way to the net-zero target. This technology complements our existing instruments for decarbonization. I am therefore delighted with the agreement with Norway. It strengthens innovation, is an opportunity for the economy and strengthens the partnership between Switzerland and Norway,”said the Swiss Minister for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Albert Rösti, in a statement.

Private entities from both countries set up pilot activities under the agreement. A number of companies and stakeholders announced commercial deals on transfers of carbon dioxide removals between Norway and Switzerland – a world first under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The pilot activities are symbolic in volume and will explore how carbon dioxide removal and cross-border CO2 storage can be integrated into international climate policy.

“This agreement is a pioneering step. It enables us to test how international cooperation on CCS and CDR can work in practice – with high environmental integrity and mutual benefit. Norway has more than 27 years of experience with safe and permanent CO2 storage, and we are proud to offer this as a service to European partners,” said Norwegian Minister of Energy Terje Aasland.

The cooperation seeks to generate early insights into regulatory frameworks, monitoring and reporting and support the development of a sustainable commercial market for CCS and CDR. It also enables long-term investment in climate technologies.