12 October 2012: The UNFCCC Secretariat has published a document containing Australia’s views on issues related to modalities and procedures for possible additional land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.18).

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 possible LULUCF activities under the CDM in accordance with Decision 2/CMP.7, paragraph 6.1 (work programme to consider, develop and recommend possible additional LULUCF activities 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; modalities and procedures for possible additional LULUCF activities should ensure the credibility of any emissions reductions and promote environmental integrity through addressing the issues of leakage, additionality, and non-permanence; Australia has introduced robust measures to address these issues under its domestic Carbon Farming Initiative; the CDM can continue to play an important role post-2012 in providing cost-effective mitigation opportunities and promoting sustainable development; and SBSTA’s work on additional activities should be consistent with the goal of strengthening the robustness of the CDM, improving the market functions of the mechanism, and enabling further growth and investment from a wide variety of sources.

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 Wetlands International. These submissions have been posted on the UNFCCC website. [Publication: Australia’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Possible Additional LULUCF Activities under the CDM] [Publication: World Bank’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Possible Additional LULUCF Activities under the CDM] [Publication: CMIA Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Possible Additional LULUCF Activities under the CDM] [Publication: Wetlands International’s Submission on Issues related to Modalities and Procedures for Possible Additional LULUCF Activities under the CDM]