12 October 2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a document containing Australia’s views on issues related to modalities and procedures for alternative approaches to addressing the risk of non-permanence under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.16).

The submission was made in response to the invitation by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to parties and admitted observer organizations to submit to the Secretariat, their views on issues related to modalities and procedures for alternative approaches to addressing the risk of non-permanence under the CDM in accordance with Decision 2/CMP.7, paragraph 7 (work programme to consider, develop and recommend modalities and procedures for alternative approaches to addressing the risk of non-permanence under the CDM).

In its submission, Australia considers that, inter alia: the land sector has an important contribution to make to the global mitigation challenge; it is key to address the issue of non-permanence as it applies to land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities under the CDM in order to realize the potential of the sector; an approach to non-permanence should focus on ensuring that reversals of sequestration are monitored and any reversal is accounted for; properly designed, LULUCF activities are capable of generating permanent abatement; the current rules on non-permanence in the CDM do not address the underlying issue and thus provide only a partial solution; Australia has introduced robust measures to address non-permanence under its domestic Carbon Farming Initiative; and the CDM can continue to play an important role post-2012 in providing cost-effective mitigation opportunities and promoting sustainable development.

In addition to the submission by Australia, the Secretariat also received one submission from an intergovernmental organization, namely the World Bank; and two submissions from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), namely Climate Markets and Investors Association (CMIA), and the Gaia Foundation. These submissions have been posted on the UNFCCC website. [Publication: Australia’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Addressing Risk of Non-Permanence under the CDM] [Publication: World Bank’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Addressing Risk of Non-Permanence under the CDM] [Publication: CMIA’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Addressing Risk of Non-Permanence under the CDM] [Publication: The Gaia Foundation’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Addressing Risk of Non-Permanence under the CDM]