The Gold Standard is the world's only independent standard for creating high-quality emission reductions projects in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Joint Implementation (JI) and Voluntary Carbon Market. It was designed to ensure that carbon credits are not only real and verifiable but that they make measurable contributions to sustainable development worldwide. Its objective is to add branding, a label to existing and new Carbon Credits generated by projects which can then be bought and traded by countries that have a binding legal commitment according to the Kyoto Protocol.
History
The Gold Standard for CDM (GS CER) was developed in 2003 by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), SouthSouthNorth, and Helio International. The Voluntary Gold Standard (GS VER), a methodology for use within the voluntary carbon market, was launched in May 2006. Both were the result of an extensive 12-month workshop and web-based consultation process conducted by an independent Standards Advisory Board composed of NGOs, scientists, project developers and government representatives.
The Gold Standard is open to any non-government, community based organization especially those with an interest in the promotion of sustainable development or a focus on climate and energy issues. As of March 2009, 60 environmental and development non-profit organizations internationally officially endorse The Gold Standard. These organizations support The Gold Standard as an effective tool for creating high-quality emission reduction projects that promote sustainable development and benefit local communities.
The Gold Standard is headquartered in the BASE (Basel Agency for Sustainable Energy) offices in Basel, Switzerland, with offices in Geneva, Rome and San Francisco. It employs local experts in Brazil, China, India and South Africa.
The Gold Standard is registered as a non-profit foundation under.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Gold Standard Certification, a project must:
1. Be an approved Renewable Energy Supply or End-use Energy Efficiency Improvement project type
2. Be reducing one of the three eligible Green House Gases: Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
3. Not employ Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the condition that the credits coming out of the project are transferred to the donor country.
4. Not be applying for other certifications, to ensure there is no double counting of Credits
5. Demonstrate it's 'additionality' by using the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Large Scale Additionality Tool; and show that the project is not a 'business-as-usual' scenario
6. Make a net-positive contribution to the economic, environmental and social welfare of the local population that hosts it
The Gold Standard Versions
In July 2008 the Gold Standard Version 2.0 was released with sets of guidelines and manuals on the GS requirements, toolkits and other supporting documents to be used by project developers and DOEs. This relegated the previously applicable manuals to Version 1.0.
The Gold Standard Registry
Status of projects that apply for Gold Standard can be tracked on its registry. The Project Developers, Designated Operational Entities (DOEs) (also known as Validators), and Traders can open accounts with the registry. There are varous publicly available reports .
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Biosequestration
Biosequestration is the capture and storage of the atmospheric greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by an increased volume or quality of photosynthesis (through practices such as growing more trees and genetic engineering respectively), as well as enhanced soil carbon in agriculture. It has been crucial to the initiation, evolution and preservation of life and is a key policy concept in the climate change mitigation debate. It does not generally refer to the sequestering of carbon dioxide in oceans (see carbon sequestration) or rock formations, depleted oil or gas reservoirs (see oil depletion and peak oil), deep saline aquifers, or deep coal seams (see coal mining) (for all see geosequestration) or through the use of industrial chemical carbon dioxide scrubbing.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Monday, December 7, 2009
Pertamina mengadakan Pertamina Blog Contest
wah.. hebat.. pertamina ngadain kontes.. mau ikutan juga ne. Tapi ntar dulu, karena saya belum dapat ide untuk menulisa jadi saya hanya akan memberi kabar ke teman-teman blogger Indonesia untuk mengikuti kontes ini.
Syarat untuk mengikuti kontes ini antara lain:
1. Situs bisa bebas memakai platform apa saja (Joomla!, wordpress, blogspot dan sebagainya)
2. Artikel yang dinilai berupa Review dan Harapan bloggers terhadap PT. Pertamina (Persero) atau produk-produk PT. Pertamina (Persero)
3. Optimalisasi kata kunci Pertamina Blog Contest yaitu : Kerja Keras Adalah Energi Kita. Menggunakan hasil pencarian dari google.com
4. Peserta wajib mendaftar dan memasang script kontes pada blog/websitenya.
Untuk lebih jelasnya, silahkan kunjungi http://www.pertaminablogcontest.com/
Syarat untuk mengikuti kontes ini antara lain:
1. Situs bisa bebas memakai platform apa saja (Joomla!, wordpress, blogspot dan sebagainya)
2. Artikel yang dinilai berupa Review dan Harapan bloggers terhadap PT. Pertamina (Persero) atau produk-produk PT. Pertamina (Persero)
3. Optimalisasi kata kunci Pertamina Blog Contest yaitu : Kerja Keras Adalah Energi Kita. Menggunakan hasil pencarian dari google.com
4. Peserta wajib mendaftar dan memasang script kontes pada blog/websitenya.
Untuk lebih jelasnya, silahkan kunjungi http://www.pertaminablogcontest.com/
Carbon finance
Carbon finance is a new branch of Environmental finance. Carbon finance explores the financial implications of living in a carbon-constrained world, a world in which emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) carry a price. Financial risks and opportunities impact corporate balance sheets, and market-based instruments are capable of transferring environmental risk and achieving environmental objectives. Issues regarding climate change and GHG emissions must be addressed as part of strategic management decision-making.
The general term is applied to investments in GHG emission reduction projects and the creation (origination) of financial instruments that are tradeable on the carbon market.
Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), is recognised through the Kyoto Protocol, allowing the offset of emissions in developed countries by the investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries like China, India or Latin America.
Joint Implementation (JI), is another mechanism, allowing investments in developed countries to generate emission credit for the same or another developed country..
Market value
The market for the purchase of carbon has grown exponentially since its conception in 1996.
The following is the estimated size of the worldwide carbon market according to the World Bank:
Volume (millions metric tonnes, MtCO2)
* 2005: 718 (330 in Main Allowances Markets & 388 in Project based transactions)
* 2006: 1,745 (1,134 in Main Allowances Markets & 611 in Project based transactions)
* 2007: 2,983 (2,109 in Main Allowances Markets & 874 in Project based transactions)
Dollars (millions of USD)
* 2005: 10,908 (7,971 in Main Allowances Markets & 2,937 in Project based transactions)
* 2006: 31,235 (24,699 in Main Allowances Markets & 6,536 in Project based transactions)
* 2007: 64,035 (50,394 in Main Allowances Markets & 13,641 in Project based transactions)
World Bank
The World Bank has created the World Bank Carbon Finance Unit (CFU). The World Bank CFU uses money contributed by governments and companies in OECD countries to purchase project-based greenhouse gas emission reductions in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The emission reductions are purchased through one of the CFU's carbon funds on behalf of the contributor, and within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI).
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
The general term is applied to investments in GHG emission reduction projects and the creation (origination) of financial instruments that are tradeable on the carbon market.
Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), is recognised through the Kyoto Protocol, allowing the offset of emissions in developed countries by the investment in emission reduction projects in developing countries like China, India or Latin America.
Joint Implementation (JI), is another mechanism, allowing investments in developed countries to generate emission credit for the same or another developed country..
Market value
The market for the purchase of carbon has grown exponentially since its conception in 1996.
The following is the estimated size of the worldwide carbon market according to the World Bank:
Volume (millions metric tonnes, MtCO2)
* 2005: 718 (330 in Main Allowances Markets & 388 in Project based transactions)
* 2006: 1,745 (1,134 in Main Allowances Markets & 611 in Project based transactions)
* 2007: 2,983 (2,109 in Main Allowances Markets & 874 in Project based transactions)
Dollars (millions of USD)
* 2005: 10,908 (7,971 in Main Allowances Markets & 2,937 in Project based transactions)
* 2006: 31,235 (24,699 in Main Allowances Markets & 6,536 in Project based transactions)
* 2007: 64,035 (50,394 in Main Allowances Markets & 13,641 in Project based transactions)
World Bank
The World Bank has created the World Bank Carbon Finance Unit (CFU). The World Bank CFU uses money contributed by governments and companies in OECD countries to purchase project-based greenhouse gas emission reductions in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. The emission reductions are purchased through one of the CFU's carbon funds on behalf of the contributor, and within the framework of the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) or Joint Implementation (JI).
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
European Union Emission Trading Scheme
The European Union Emission Trading System (EU ETS) is the largest multi-national, emissions trading scheme in the world, and is a major pillar of EU climate policy. The ETS currently covers more than 10,000 installations with a net heat excess of 20 MW in the energy and industrial sectors which are collectively responsible for close to half of the EU's emissions of CO2 and 40% of its total greenhouse gas emissions.
Under the EU ETS, large emitters of carbon dioxide within the EU must monitor and annually report their CO2 emissions, and they are obliged every year to return an amount of emission allowances to the government that is equivalent to their CO2 emissions in that year. In order to neutralise annual irregularities in CO2-emission levels that may occur due to extreme weather events (such as harsh winters or very hot summers), emission allowances for any plant operator subject to the EU ETS are given out for a sequence of several years at once. Each such sequence of years is called a Trading Period. The 1st EU ETS Trading Period expired in December 2007; it had covered all EU ETS emissions since January 2005. With its termination, the 1st phase EU allowances became invalid. Since January 2008, the 2nd Trading Period is under way which will last until December 2012. Currently, the installations get the allowances for free from the EU member states' governments. Besides receiving this initial allocation on a plant-by-plant basis, an operator may purchase EU allowances from others (installations, traders, the government.) If an installation has received more free allowances than it needs, it may sell them to anybody.
In January 2008, the European Commission proposed a number of changes to the scheme, including centralized allocation (no more national allocation plans) by an EU authority, a turn to auctioning a greater share (60+ %) of permits rather than allocating freely, and inclusion of other greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide and perfluorocarbons. These changes are still in a draft stage; the mentioned amendments are only likely to become effective from January 2013 onwards, i.e. in the 3rd Trading Period under the EU ETS. Also, the proposed caps for the 3rd Trading Period foresee an overall reduction of greenhouse gases for the sector of 21% in 2020 compared to 2005 emissions. The EU ETS has recently been extended to the airline industry as well, but these changes will not take place until 2012.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Under the EU ETS, large emitters of carbon dioxide within the EU must monitor and annually report their CO2 emissions, and they are obliged every year to return an amount of emission allowances to the government that is equivalent to their CO2 emissions in that year. In order to neutralise annual irregularities in CO2-emission levels that may occur due to extreme weather events (such as harsh winters or very hot summers), emission allowances for any plant operator subject to the EU ETS are given out for a sequence of several years at once. Each such sequence of years is called a Trading Period. The 1st EU ETS Trading Period expired in December 2007; it had covered all EU ETS emissions since January 2005. With its termination, the 1st phase EU allowances became invalid. Since January 2008, the 2nd Trading Period is under way which will last until December 2012. Currently, the installations get the allowances for free from the EU member states' governments. Besides receiving this initial allocation on a plant-by-plant basis, an operator may purchase EU allowances from others (installations, traders, the government.) If an installation has received more free allowances than it needs, it may sell them to anybody.
In January 2008, the European Commission proposed a number of changes to the scheme, including centralized allocation (no more national allocation plans) by an EU authority, a turn to auctioning a greater share (60+ %) of permits rather than allocating freely, and inclusion of other greenhouse gases, such as nitrous oxide and perfluorocarbons. These changes are still in a draft stage; the mentioned amendments are only likely to become effective from January 2013 onwards, i.e. in the 3rd Trading Period under the EU ETS. Also, the proposed caps for the 3rd Trading Period foresee an overall reduction of greenhouse gases for the sector of 21% in 2020 compared to 2005 emissions. The EU ETS has recently been extended to the airline industry as well, but these changes will not take place until 2012.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
EU Allowances
EU Allowances are Climate credits (or Carbon credits) used in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). EU Allowances are issued by the EU Member States into Member State Registry accounts. By April 30 of each year, operators of installations covered by the EU ETS must surrender an EU Allowance for each ton of CO2 emitted in the previous year.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Carbon Reduction Commitment
The Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) is a proposed mandatory cap and trade scheme in the United Kingdom that will apply to large non energy-intensive organisations in the public and private sectors. It is anticipated that the scheme will have cut carbon emissions by 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2020. The British Government first committed to cutting UK carbon emissions by 60% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels, then in October 2008 changed the commitment to 80% by 2050.
The Carbon Reduction Commitment was announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper, published on May 23, 2007. A consultation in 2006 showed strong support for it to be mandatory, rather than voluntary. The Commitment is to be introduced under enabling powers planned for inclusion in the Climate Change Bill. A consultation into the scheme's implementation was launched in June 2007.
Coverage
The CRC scheme will apply to organisations that have a half-hourly metered electricity consumption greater than 6,000 MWh per year. Organisations qualifying for CRC would have all their energy use covered by the scheme, this includes emissions from direct energy use as well as electricity purchased. Such organisations - including hotel chains, supermarkets, banks, central government and large Local Authorities - mostly fall below the threshold for the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, but account for around 10% of the UK carbon emissions. Emissions covered by the EU Energy Trading Scheme and by a Climate Change Agreement would be exempt from the CRC, as would organisations with more than 25% of their emissions covered by Climate Change Agreements.
Operating mechanisms
Although mandatory, the Carbon Reduction Commitment will involve self-certification of emissions, backed up by auditing, rather than third-party verification. Emission allowances are to be auctioned, with all the income from the auctions recycled back to participants by the means of an annual payment based on participants' average annual emissions since the start of the scheme, with a bonus or penalty according to the organisation's position in a CRC league table. In March 2008 the Government responded to a consultation into the implementation of the CRC. The Government is minded to proceed with an allowance price of £12/tCO2 for the introductory three year phase, although this will be confirmed in the response to the Summer 2008 consultation on the CRC regulations. It is suggested there should be two fixed price sales in the first year of the scheme.
Participants in the Carbon Reduction Commitment will also be able to purchase (but not sell) emission allowances from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme at a price that is the higher of the EU ETS price or the minimum CRC floor price.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
The Carbon Reduction Commitment was announced in the 2007 Energy White Paper, published on May 23, 2007. A consultation in 2006 showed strong support for it to be mandatory, rather than voluntary. The Commitment is to be introduced under enabling powers planned for inclusion in the Climate Change Bill. A consultation into the scheme's implementation was launched in June 2007.
Coverage
The CRC scheme will apply to organisations that have a half-hourly metered electricity consumption greater than 6,000 MWh per year. Organisations qualifying for CRC would have all their energy use covered by the scheme, this includes emissions from direct energy use as well as electricity purchased. Such organisations - including hotel chains, supermarkets, banks, central government and large Local Authorities - mostly fall below the threshold for the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, but account for around 10% of the UK carbon emissions. Emissions covered by the EU Energy Trading Scheme and by a Climate Change Agreement would be exempt from the CRC, as would organisations with more than 25% of their emissions covered by Climate Change Agreements.
Operating mechanisms
Although mandatory, the Carbon Reduction Commitment will involve self-certification of emissions, backed up by auditing, rather than third-party verification. Emission allowances are to be auctioned, with all the income from the auctions recycled back to participants by the means of an annual payment based on participants' average annual emissions since the start of the scheme, with a bonus or penalty according to the organisation's position in a CRC league table. In March 2008 the Government responded to a consultation into the implementation of the CRC. The Government is minded to proceed with an allowance price of £12/tCO2 for the introductory three year phase, although this will be confirmed in the response to the Summer 2008 consultation on the CRC regulations. It is suggested there should be two fixed price sales in the first year of the scheme.
Participants in the Carbon Reduction Commitment will also be able to purchase (but not sell) emission allowances from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme at a price that is the higher of the EU ETS price or the minimum CRC floor price.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/
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