Technical assessment of the Verified Carbon Standard – “VM033 Methodology for Tidal Wetland and Seagrass Restoration

[摘要] The broad conclusion of this assessment is that the VM0033 methodology is mostly consistent with the offsets integrity standards and offers a good starting point for building an Australian ERF method; however, there are a range of issues that should be addressed and components of VM0033 that will require modification. Table 1 provides a summary that identifies those components of the VM0033 methodology that could be adopted directly, those that would require change and those where a new approach would be required to support the development of an Australian ERF method. Some general comments pertaining to each of the criteria follow.VM033 offers more options to quantify emission reductions than the IPCC Wetlands Supplement; however, a subset of the options in VM0033 are consistent with the IPCC Wetlands Supplement and National inventory approaches. Development of improved default factors that are applicable to Australia or regions of Australia is recommended, particularly for predicting the emissions outcome of the baseline scenario where no validation is possible. A factor for methane emission under low salinity needs to be defined as none were provided in VM0033 due to the high variability of methane emission rates under low salinity conditions.VM0033 places the onus on the project proponent to justify the approach and options/default selected based on evidence associated with measurement, previous data and proven modelling approaches. The flexibility provided in VM0033 is not typical of ERF methods where the approach to be used by project proponents is tightly prescribed. Although the ERF approach reduces the flexibility of an emissions reduction method, it also helps guarantee that, if methods defined for quantifying emissions reductions are adhered to, the likelihood of being awarded credits based on the data collected is high.A permanence period of 100 years is defined for VM0033 with no other options. Australian ERF methods offer permanence periods of 100 and 25 years. If a 25 year permanence period is elected within ERF methods, project emission reductions eligible for receiving Australian Carbon Credit Units are reduced by 20 percent. For consistency with other ERF methods, it is recommended that any ERF method maintains the existing approach.However, it should be noted that a significant time lag may occur in the carbon stock accumulation as revegetation with mangroves occurs. A similar time lag may also be present in changes in soil carbon stocks if the accumulation of soil carbon is dependent upon the extent of mangrove establishment and/or inputs.In VM0033 additionality is assessed in different ways depending on whether the project is located within or outside the United States. Within the United States, the basis of additionality of tidal wetland restoration projects uses an “activity method”.In this approach, tidal restoration projects have an activity penetration level (observed adoption/maximum adoption potential) of only 2.74% that is below the 5% threshold used to specify additionality.Thus, VM0033 considers all tidal wetland restoration projects additional.For countries other than the United State, a CDM tool (CDM Combined tool to identify the baseline scenario and demonstrate additionality for A/R CDM project activities) is used.In developing a test for additionality for an ERF method, it is recommended that only one approach is defined for Australian projects. It is suggested that this test be constructed in a manner to assess whether the management practice to be applied to the project area deviates from that applied over a defined period before the project is initiated.That is, that the practices imposed over the period prior to initiating a project be used to establish the business as usual management and the proponent then defines how these practices will change within the project period.Emissions removal or reduction using the approaches in VM0033 considers all greenhouse gas sources

[发布日期] 2019-10-25 [发布机构] CSIRO

[学科分类] 地球科学(综合)