| |
|
- Only areas that were not forest on 31st December 1989 are likely to
meet the CDM definitions of afforestation or reforestation.
- Projects must result in real, measurable and long-term emission reductions,
as certified by a third party agency ('operational entities' in the
language of the convention). The carbon stocks generated by the project
need to be secure over the long term (a point referred to as 'permanence'),
and any future emissions that might arise from these stocks need to
be accounted for.
- Emission reductions or sequestration must be additional to any that
would occur without the project. They must result in a net storage of
carbon and therefore a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
This is called 'additionality' and is assessed by comparing the carbon
stocks and flows of the project activities with those that would have
occurred without the project (its 'baseline'). For example, the project
may be proposing to afforest farmland with native tree species, increasing
its stocks of carbon. By comparing the carbon stored in the 'project'
plantations (high carbon) with the carbon that would have been stored
in the 'baseline' abandoned farmland (low carbon) it is possible to
calculate the net carbon benefit. There are still a number of technical
discussions regarding the interpretation of the 'additionality' requirement
for specific contexts.
- Projects must be in line with sustainable development objectives,
as defined by the government that is hosting them.
- Projects must contribute to biodiversity conservation and sustainable
use of natural resources.
- Only projects starting from the year 2000 onwards will be eligible.
- Two percent of the carbon credits awarded to a CDM project will be
allocated to a fund to help cover the costs of adaptation in countries
severely affected by climate change (the 'adaptation levy'). This adaptation
fund may provide support for land use activities that are not presently
eligible under the CDM, for example conservation of existing forest
resources.
- Some of the proceeds from carbon credit sales from all CDM projects
will be used to cover administrative expenses of the CDM (a proportion
still to be decided).
- Projects need to select a crediting period for activities, either
a maximum of seven years that can be renewed at most two times, or a
maximum of ten years with no renewal option.
s
- The funding for CDM projects must not come from a diversion of official
development assistance (ODA) funds.
- Each CDM project's management plan must address and account for potential
leakage. Leakage is the unplanned, indirect emission of CO2,
resulting from the project activities. For example, if the project involves
the establishment of plantations on agricultural land, then leakage
could occur if people who were farming on this land migrated to clear
forest elsewhere.
|
|
