26 August 2010: The reports from the meetings of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Afforestation/Reforestation Working Group, Methodologies Panel and Small-Scale Working Group are now available on the CDM website.

The CDM Afforestation/Reforestation Working Group (A/R WG) held its 29th meeting from 9-11 August 2010, in Bonn, Germany, to consider matters relating to CDM afforestation and reforestation projects. During the meeting, the A/R WG considered two proposed new A/R methodologies. It agreed to recommend that the Board approve the new methodology “Simplified baseline and monitoring methodology for small-scale A/R CDM project activities on grasslands or croplands.” It could not complete its consideration of the proposed new methodology “Afforestation/reforestation activities on degraded agricultural land subject to abandonment process” because further consideration is needed to finalize the option allowing an increase in stock of soil organic carbon in abandoned lands, including the impact of the intensity of ploughing of abandoned lands and its timing in the project scenario. The A/R WG agreed to continue working on this methodology and expects to complete its consideration at its next meeting. The A/R WG also considered clarifications and revisions of approved methodologies and methodological tools, as well as requests for clarifications related to the application of approved baseline and monitoring methodologies. All recommendations made by the WG to the CDM Executive Board are contained in the meeting report.

The A/R WG also agreed to recommend a draft revision to the “Guidelines for completing the CDM A/R forms for: “the project design document (CDM-AR-PDD) and the proposed new baseline and monitoring methodology (CDM-AR-NM).” The revision restructures the guidelines to reflect changes applied in the revised forms CDM-AR-PDD and CDM-AR-NM approved by the Board at its 55th meeting.

The CDM Methodologies Panel held its 45th meeting from 9-13 August 2010, in Bonn, Germany, to consider matters relating to methodologies for baselines and monitoring plans. During the meeting, the Panel considered five proposed new methodologies, and agreed to: recommend two of the methodologies for approval; recommend one for non-approval; and continue consideration of two of the methodologies at its next meeting. It also considered requests for clarification on, and revision to, approved methodologies.

In addition, the Methodologies Panel considered some requests made to it by the CDM Executive Board. Regarding the proposed revision to the “Combined tool to demonstrate additionality and identify the baseline scenario,” the Panel agreed to recommend to the Board to revise the tool in order to broaden its applicability, to further ensure its consistency with the “Tool for the demonstration and assessment of additionality” and to include some minor editorial improvements. Also, while working on the revision to the tool, the Panel considered other approaches that could allow for identification of the baseline scenario in a systematic and streamlined manner for different project types. Based on this work, it agreed to request the CDM Executive Board to take note that it started the development of a guidance or tool for determination of the baseline scenario.

With regard to the revision of approved methodologies to further improve their objectivity, applicability, usability and consistency, the Methodologies Panel agreed to assess approved methodologies with respect to identification of cases: where conservatively selected default values could replace complex or time-consuming monitoring procedures; and where simplification might be possible by replacing elements of the methodology with discount factors if this would result in a conservative outcome. The Panel further agreed to report on it at its next meeting. Regarding the work on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) projects, the Panel requested the CDM Executive Board to take note that it: considered the issues raised by the Executive Board during its 55th meeting; agreed to the scope of work needed to meet the request from the Board; and identified steps to be followed. The Methodologies Panel members expressed their intent to discuss the first outputs at their next meeting.

The Small-Scale Working Group (SSC WG) held its 27th meeting from 16-19 August 2010, in Arendal, Norway, to consider matters relating to small-scale CDM projects. The SSC WG considered requests for revisions to, or clarifications of, approved small-scale methodologies. It also considered ten requests for the creation of new methodologies and agreed to recommend the methodology NM038-rev2 “Fuel switch in a cogeneration/trigeneration system.” In response to the proposed methodologies NM040-rev for fossil fuel switch in manufacturing of ceramic products and NM047-rev for switching fossil fuels at steel production facilities, the SSC WG agreed to recommend a consolidated methodology covering fossil fuel switch project activities in various production processes such as steel and ceramics. Also in response to NM052-rev “Transport energy efficiency activities using post – fit idling stop device,” the SSC WG prepared a draft reformatted methodology and agreed to continue considering the case and make a final recommendation at its next meeting after taking into account any further inputs from the project proponent. The SSC WG agreed not to recommend five of the proposed new methodologies and to continue consideration of NM053-rev for the determination of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions based on whole-building simulation of building using eQUEST/DOE-2.2.

On issues of general guidance, the SSC WG group prepared a top down, draft Type III methodology titled “Substituting fuel based lighting with LED lighting systems.” It agreed to seek further input from the authors of the public submissions who previously provided comments on the framework methodology before making a final recommendation to the CDM Executive Board at its next meeting. The SSC WG agreed to make a recommendation to the Board with regard to possibilities of including in baseline and monitoring methodologies, as appropriate, a scenario where future anthropogenic emissions by sources are projected to rise above current levels due to specific circumstances of the host party. Other recommendations made by the SSC WG to the CDM Executive Board are contained in annexes to the report. [A/R WG Report] [Meth Panel Report] [SSC WG Report]