Call for public inputs on the structure of cornerstone regulatory document of the CDM, the withdrawal of published monitoring report and change of DOE at verification stage, and the voluntary withdrawal of focal point role from a project activity (27 August to 16 September, 24:00 GMT)

1.    Structure of cornerstone regulatory documents for the CDM

The CDM Executive Board, at its eighty-fourth meeting (EB 84, paragraph 8) considered a concept note on the development of a consolidated and streamlined set of provisions for programmes of activities (PoAs). It requested the secretariat to further analyse options for the structure of document(s), taking into account the overall context of simplification and streamlining of the CDM, including provisions for project activities. The Board expressed a general preference for having fewer regulatory documents, while enhancing their clarity for users, and requested the secretariat to consult with stakeholders in this regard and report to the Board at a future meeting. 

Based on this, stakeholders are invited to provide their inputs on the structure of documents containing consolidated and streamlined set of provisions for PoAs, as well as for project activities. These documents are expected to contain the provisions currently covered by the following documents, with possible modifications:

• “CDM project standard” (PS);
• “CDM validation and verification standard" (VVS);
• “CDM project cycle procedure” (PCP);
• “Demonstration of additionality, development of eligibility criteria and application of multiple methodologies for programme of activities” (PoA standard).

Possible options for the structure of the document(s) could include, but not limited to:

• One document, consolidating all elements of the PS, VVS, PCP and the PoA standard, covering both for project activities and PoAs;
• Two documents: (i) one consolidating all elements of the PS, VVS and PCP for project activities (ii) one consolidating all elements of the PS, VVS, PCP for PoAs and the PoA standard;
• Three documents: (i) one consolidating all elements of the PS and VVS for project activities; (ii) one consolidating all elements of the PS, VVS for PoAs and the PoA standard; (iii) PCP for both project activities and PoAs;
• Four documents: (i) one consolidating all elements of the PS and VVS for project activities; (ii) one consolidating all elements of the PS, VVS for PoAs and the PoA standard; (iii) PCP containing procedural requirements only for project activities; (iv) PCP containing procedural requirements only for PoAs.

2.    Withdrawing published monitoring report and changing DOEs at the verification stage

The CDM Executive Board, at its eighty-fourth meeting (EB 84, paragraph 35), considered the issue raised by a communication to the Board (2015-383-S) regarding the modalities for withdrawing a published monitoring report and the change of designated operational entity (DOE) at the verification stage. The Board requested the secretariat to consult with DOEs and project participants in this regard, and based on the input received, prepare a proposal of changes to the relevant regulatory provisions, ensuring a similar approach to be taken for both the validation and verification stages, and include it in the work on the simplification and streamlining of the CDM.

Based on this, stakeholders are invited to provide their inputs on the modalities for withdrawing a published project design document and monitoring report and the change of DOE at the validation and verification stages with regard to, inter alia, who (project participants, or the outgoing or incoming DOE) shall request or notify such action to the secretariat, and what due diligence checks by the secretariat are needed to authenticate the request or notification.

3.    Voluntary withdrawal of focal point role from a project activity

For all CDM project activities and PoAs, it is required to designate (a) focal point(s) for the purpose of communication with the secretariat on various administrative issues. The designation of the focal point is done by submission of a modalities of communication (MoC) statement at the time of registration of the project activity or PoA (please refer to section 4.6 of the PCP for more detail). To change the designation of a focal point, it is required to submit a new MoC statement duly signed by all project participants. It is not allowed for a designated focal point to unilaterally (i.e. without obtaining the consent/signature of all project participants) withdraw the focal point role (please refer to section 6.4.3 of the PCP for more detail). 

Stakeholders are invited to provide their inputs on the current rules on post-registration changes to the designation of focal points.

The call for public inputs from stakeholders was open from 27 August to 16 September 2015 (24:00 GMT).