Highlights of the 60th meeting of the CDM Executive Board

Bangkok, 15 April 2011 -– At its 60th meeting the CDM Executive Board took important decisions that should help spread CDM projects to underrepresented areas. The Board approved its first top-down developed large-scale methodology, for afforestation/reforestation project activities, and a small-scale agricultural methodology designed to reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation. The CDM Board also accredited a new entity in Africa, Carbon Check (Pty) Ltd, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is the sole Africa-based entity and holds the promise of increased service to the continent. “The CDM’s contribution to development of expertise in assessment of emissions reductions across the world is often overlooked. There are already CDM auditors based in Europe, Asia and Latin America. I am delighted to now see the addition of auditor capacity in Africa,” said Board Chair Martin Hession. The large-scale afforestation/reforestation methodology (AR-AM0013) covers emission reductions from projects located on lands other than wetlands. It was developed by the UNFCCC secretariat in response to a request from Parties for methodologies that could help spread CDM to underrepresented areas. The methodology is the first of about three top-down large-scale methodologies that are being developed by the secretariat and expected to be considered by the Board in 2011. The agricultural methodology (SSCV-III.AU) is for projects that reduce emissions in rice cultivation, through adjusted management practices, specifically direct-seeding of crops instead of more traditional transplanting into flooded paddies. “The CDM work on methodologies is a major contribution to the process of identifying emission reduction potential in developing countries. These methodologies represent a step change. They broaden access to CDM significantly in the forestry and agriculture sectors. They have a particular applicability in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia,” said Mr. Hession. For the full report of the meeting see <http://cdm.unfccc.int/EB/index.html>.