Elements of a certification system for forestry-based carbon offset projects

Implementation of the Kyoto Protocol will require the establishment of procedures for monitoring, verification and certification of carbon offset projects. In this paper, the steps required for independent certification of forestry-based carbon offset projects are reviewed, based on the procedures used by the international certification company Societe Generale de Surveillance. Firstly, a project must be evaluated for its suitability in relation to eligibility criteria of the Kyoto Protocol. These eligibility criteria are classified under four headings: (a) acceptability to host country parties and international agreements; (b) additionality, in terms of demonstrated positive greenhouse gas effects additional to the 'business-as-usual' case; (c) externalities or unwanted side effects; and, (d) capacity to implement project's activities. Secondly, the scientific methodology for calculating the carbon offsets and the methodology for data collection and statistical analysis must be evaluated. Additionally, the amount of carbon offsets quantified must be adjusted to reflect the uncertainty associated with the methodology and data used. Only when these steps have been completed can carbon offsets be certified. Finally, the paper discusses the importance of standardization of methods and procedures used for project monitoring and verification, and the need for accreditation to ensure that the activities of certifiers are regulated.