Project design description

Climate projects need to document how the contribute towards reducing or removing emissions transparently. A project design description (PDD) is a comprehensive document that outlines the design and implementation details of a climate project. It serves as the foundation for the issuance of carbon credits and provides a comprehensive overview of the project's goals, strategies, and methods for mitigating emissions. The PDD includes information such as the project's background, the baseline emissions (i.e., the emissions that would have occurred in absence of the project), the criteria and procedures for measuring emissions reductions and/or removals, the expected impacts of the project, and the monitoring and verification procedures to ensure the project's impacts. The PDD is submitted to a validation and verification body for assessment. Upon validation, the project may be registered, and may (with limitation) issue ex-ante carbon credits.

Start date

A start date refers to the date when a climate project officially begins operations. This date is significant as it marks the beginning of the project's carbon credit generation process. The start date is documented in the project design document (PDD) and is used to determine the duration of the project crediting, the expected emissions reductions, and the calculation of carbon credits. Carbon credits are issued based on the difference between the baseline emissions (i.e., the emissions that would have occurred in the absence of the project) and the actual project emissions. The start date serves as the reference point for determining the baseline emissions and the start of the project's emissions mitigations. The start date is also used to calculate the end date of the project, which marks the end of the project's carbon credit generation. The end date is determined based on the crediting period, the project's design, the expected emissions reductions, and the monitoring and verification procedures.

What is a baseline and the baseline scenario

A baseline refers to the level of emissions that would have occurred in the absence of a carbon project. It is a reference point used to assess emissions reductions achieved by the project and to determine the amount of carbon credits that can be issued. The baseline scenario is a hypothetical scenario that represents the emissions that would have occurred in the absence of the carbon project. The baseline scenario is based on historical data, current emissions trends, and future projections. It is developed as part of the project design document (PDD) and is used to determine the baseline emissions. The baseline scenario serves as the foundation for the calculation of carbon credits. The difference between the baseline scenario and the actual emissions achieved by the project is used to determine the amount of carbon credits that can be issued.

Additionality

The concept of additionality is a crucial aspect in the assessment of all climate projects, regardless of their origin. To be considered a true climate project, the reduction in emissions must be "additional" to what would have occurred in the absence of the project (i.e. the baseline). This means that if a project is already required by regulations, economically viable, or funded by other sources, it is considered not to represent a net environmental benefit. The additionality aspect is critical in determining the validity of emissions mitigation activities for offsetting purposes. Without it, there is no assurance that the emissions reductions are truly "additional" to business-as-usual. It is important to note that additionality is not a yes or no attribute of a climate project. The level of additionality may vary between projects, but it should not be assumed that projects are different in the effectiveness in mitigating climate change. The pricing of carbon credits often reflects the degree of neccessary funding of project implementation, R&D, operation, etc. The credits themselves do not necessarily indicate the level of additionality. To be eligible for registration, projects must adhere to three levels of additionality benchmarking criteria set by ICR. However, projects may also demonstrate conformity to other levels. The ICR registry labels each project according to its level of additionality based on these criteria. Organizations or individuals looking to offset their emissions through the purchase of carbon credits may find information on additionality level of the project they are supporting in the registry. More on additionality here.

Methodologies

A methodology refers to standardized procedures and guidelines that are used to calculate the emissions mitigations achieved by a carbon project. Methodologies provide a consistent and transparent approach to calculating emissions reductions, ensuring that carbon credits are generated based on consistent and credible data and comparable withing the methodological framework. A methodology defines the steps required to calculate the baseline emissions and the emissions reductions, as well as the monitoring and reporting requirements for the project. Methodologies are developed by different stakeholder and used to determine the impacts of climate projects and carbon credits that may be issued for the lifetime of the project. However, the use of standardized methodologies can also slow down or prevent innovation of prominent climate solutions. The strict application of established methodologies may limit the adoption of new and innovative technologies and practices that could lead to greater emissions impacts. The development and approval process for new methodologies can be time-consuming and costly, hindering the adoption of innovative solutions.

Validation and Verification

Validation and verification are two important processes that ensure the credibility and accuracy of emissions mitigations estimated and achieved by a carbon project. Validation refers to the process of determining that a climate project meets the requirements of a particular GHG program and that the project design document (PDD) accurately reflects the project's design and implementation. This process is carried out by an independent third-party validation and verification body. The validation body reviews the PDD and the project's implementation plans and provides a validation report with the assurance of conformity. Verification refers to the process of verifying the actual emissions mitigations achieved by the climate project. This process is carried out by an independent third-party validation and verification body. The verification body examines the data collected by the project, and assesses it to the relevant criteria, and provides a verification report that confirming the impacts achieved by the project. Validation and verification provides assurance to organizations that the credits used for offsetting represent real and verifiable emissions mitigations.

Crediting period

A crediting period is the specific time frame during which a climate project generates carbon credits. This time frame is defined in the project design document (PDD) and subject to requirements in the GHG program and is based on the expected emissions mitigations and the project's design and implementation. The crediting period determines the duration of the project and the amount of carbon credits that can be generated during the period. The start date and end date of the crediting period are defined in the PDD and are used to determine the baseline emissions, the emissions reductions, and the calculation of carbon credits. The length of the crediting period can vary depending on the type of project and the emissions mitigations achieved. Some projects may have a crediting period of several years, while others may have a crediting period of several decades. The crediting period is also subject to review and may be extended if the project continues to generate emissions reductions beyond the original end date.

Crediting Process

The crediting process refers to the steps involved in generating and using carbon credits. The process starts with the development of a climate project that aims to reduce or remove emissions and generate carbon credits to support its implementation and operation. The following are the main (simplified) general steps in the crediting process:

1. Project Design Document (PDD) - The first step is to develop a PDD that outlines the project's design, implementation, and expected emissions mitigations. The PDD is the foundation for the estimation of carbon credits and is used to determine the baseline emissions, the crediting period, and the monitoring and reporting of the project.

2. Validation - The next step is to validate the project to ensure that it meets the requirements of a GHG program and that the PDD accurately reflects the project's design and implementation. This process is carried out by an independent third-party validation body.

3. Monitoring - The project operations are monitored following the monitoring plan and reported. This process is carried out by the project proponent and involves collection and analysis of data to calculate the mitigations achieved by the project.

4. Verification - The nexts step is to verify the actual emissions mitigations achieved by the project. This process is carried out by an independent third-party verification body and involves the collection and analysis of data from monitoring to confirm the amount of emissions mitigations achieved by the project.

5. Issuance of Carbon Credits - Once the emissions mitigations have been verified, carbon credits (ex-post) may be issued based on the amount of emissions mitigation verified. These credits are issued in an electronic registry operated by the GHG program.

6. Trading - The credits can then be traded. Carbon credits may be bought and sold by entities that need to offset their emissions, including corporations, governments, and individuals directly from project developers, brokers or exchanges.

7. Offsetting - The final step is to retire the carbon credits to support claims made by organizations. Organizations that have calculated their significant emissions and redused emissions may then use carbon credits to support climate actions outside their supply chain and offset remaining emissions with retirement of purchased carbon credits.