30 July 2010: The Report of the 55th Meeting of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board (EB), which took place from 26-30 July 2010, in Bonn, Germany, to consider matters relating to the operation of the CDM, is now available.

Regarding methodologies for baselines and monitoring plans, the Board: agreed to approve the methodology “Air separation using cryogenic energy recovered from the vaporization of LNG” and link it to scope 03 (Energy demand); and agreed not to approve six of the proposed methodologies. The EB noted that if revised taking into account the comments made, these methodologies can be resubmitted, although they will require new expert and public input. The Board also considered draft “Guidelines on the treatment of national and sectoral policies in the demonstration and assessment of additionality” and agreed not to continue the consideration of the treatment of national and sectoral policies in the demonstration and assessment of additionality. It agreed that the possible impacts of national and sectoral policies in the demonstration and assessment of additionality shall be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The EB also considered issues relating to small-scale CDM project activities and approved the following small-scale methodologies: “Conversion from single cycle to combined cycle power generation,” “Plant oil production and use for energy generation in stationary applications,” “Biodiesel production and use for energy generation in stationary applications,” and “Biodiesel production and use for transportation applications.” On matters relating to the CDM programme of activities, the Board revised the “Procedures for review of erroneous inclusion of a CPA” and “Procedures for registration of a Programme of Activities as a single CDM Project Activity and issuance of certified emission reductions for a Programme of Activities” in order to reduce barriers to the development of programmes of activities under the CDM.

Regarding the registration of CDM project activities, the EB agreed to register two of the proposed CDM project activities. It also agreed to register, subject to satisfactory corrections, 18 of the proposed project activities and could not register four of the proposed project activities. It also considered 19 project activities for which corrections had been submitted in response to the outcome of a previous review, and agreed to register one of the project activities and could not register 18.

Regarding the consideration of appeals against decisions of the Board, the Board considered the policy paper on draft procedures for such appeals and requested the Secretariat to prepare draft procedures based on the comments provided by the Board, for consideration at its next meeting. The Secretariat was requested to prepare the procedures with a view to making a recommendation to the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol at its sixth session (COP/MOP 6), based on the assumption that: the EB would remain the initial decision maker; the scope of the appeals would be limited; the appeals process would be based on a “two-party” approach; the appellate body would have the authority to request specified additional information from either party; and the appealed body would give deference to the ruling of the initial decision maker.

The Board also considered matters relating to: the accreditation of operational entities; the issuance of certified emission reductions (CERs) and the CDM registry; the CDM management plan and resources for the work on the CDM; CDM afforestation and reforestation project activities; and relations with Designated National Authorities (DNAs), Designated Operational and Applicant Entities, stakeholders, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.[CDM EB55 Report]