30 April 2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has announced that, from 1 May 2012, it will begin receiving project-related submissions under the new Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project Cycle Procedure, and CDM project participants can request private telephone consultations to clarify issues identified during assessment under the new procedure.

The ability to request private telephone consultations with the UNFCCC Secretariat is part of efforts being made under the CDM to enhance communication with stakeholders and ultimately, the transparency and efficiency of the CDM process. The new Project Cycle Procedure is part of the CDM’s new regulatory framework, adopted by the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP) at its seventh meeting in November 2011. This regulatory framework incorporates the main CDM rules and requirements and aims to improve the clarity, transparency and efficiency of the CDM regulatory process.

From 1 May 2012, case submissions can be made under the new framework and project assessments can be made using the new and old procedures until 1 October 2012. From 1 October, all CDM related submissions must be made under the new procedures. [CDM Press Release]