Validation and Verification of Climate Protection Projects
In the face of the far-reaching consequences of global warming, climate change has become one of the most important challenges. In the 2015 Paris Agreement, almost all countries committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions significantly. For carbon neutrality the offsetting with valuable and verified CO2 certificates is immanent.
TÜV NORD CERT GmbH has been accredited with UNFCCC since 2009 and have validated and verified more than one thousand projects in the past years.
Additionally TÜV NORD CERT GmbH holds the accreditation with the German accreditation body DAkkS for ISO 14065.
Update on VERRA VCS Scope 14 in P.R. China
As you may have heard, TÜV NORD CERT GmbH has received a warning letter from VERRA regarding a potential suspension for Scope 14 in P.R. China. Along with the letter, VERRA issued a related non-conformity report. This matter solely concerns Rice Cultivation Projects in P.R. China and VERRA VCS Scope 14. All projects outside of P.R. China and beyond scope 14 remain unaffected.
We have provided our response, and have updated our Quality Management System as necessary, based on the Root Cause Analysis and the implementation of corrective actions. We are confident that all issues have been resolved to VERRA's satisfaction and that no suspension will be initiated by VERRA against TÜV NORD CERT for VCS Scope 14 in P.R. China.
Preconditions for Certification
To generate valuable carbon credits, you need to design your project according to an acknowledged methodology within one of the carbon standards. And your Project Design document has to reflect this methodology consistently. Then the project can be validated and verified by an accredited entity such as TÜV NORD CERT GmbH.
Validation is an ex ante assessment of a greenhouse gas emission reduction project activity. Within this validation it is assessed whether the project design fulfils the Standard requirements and is able to generate valuable credits. During the validation the operational entity, like TÜV NORD CERT GmbH, will analyse the project design document (PDD) and other associated documents and information. Positive validation is a prerequisite for the registration of the Project.
The verification is a periodic review to determine the actual emission reductions of the Standard project activity. Continued compliance with the criteria defined under the respective standard is also verified. Following successful project verification, TÜV NORD will determine and forward the recommendation of achieved emission reductions for issuance (CER).
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TÜV NORD CERT GmbH is accredited for the following standards:
ISO 14064-2 is part of a series of standards for balancing and reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is used for quantification, monitoring and reporting on the reduction of GHGs within an organization. ISO 14064-2 provides the framework for this process through principles and requirements. In doing so, it refers to the project level – to project planning, as well as to the identification and selection of the sources, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gas emissions that are crucial for the project and the reduction of GHGs.
The Gold Standard (GS) was established in 2003 by the WWF and other international non-governmental organizations. The Gold Standard for Global Goals (GS4GG) means that the next generation is ready to start. GS is a voluntary carbon standard. It sets out rules, requirements and methodologies to efficiently measure and monitor the impact of GHG reduction measures. This can be useful for GHG projects that wish to issue carbon credits, and also for activities in supply chains up to national project level. When certified by Gold Standard, the relevant GHG project is listed in the GS Impact Registry, and carbon credits titled VER (Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions) can be purchased.
To learn more about the Gold Standard and its impact on GHG reduction, click here.
One system offered by the UN to offset emissions is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). It can be used to purchase certified emission reduction credits (CERs) for projects in so-called developing countries. These will then be traded so that industrialised countries can move closer to their Kyoto Protocol targets.
The Forest Climate Standard (WKS) was developed specifically for German forest climate protection projects, based on UN guidelines. It is the first such standard for the Ecosystem Value Association (eva) e.V., the organization which is behind it. Based on WKS certification, climate protection projects can receive tradable CO2 certificates, whose sale enables forest owners in turn to receive funds for further climate protection projects. It also offers a good opportunity for other companies and organizations to contribute to climate protection and biodiversity in Germany by purchasing these certificates. After all, the projects always involve measures for forest conservation or reforestation or adaptation of existing forests to achieve greater climate resilience.
Discover more about the Forest Climate Standard (WKS) and how it supports climate protection and biodiversity in Germany, here.
According to Article 6.2 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries are allowed to trade carbon credits and carbon sinks with each other – bilaterally and multilaterally. This allows countries implementing climate measures to sell their carbon credits to other countries as International Transfer Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). The latter can then be credited as their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The ITMOs are measured in CO2 equivalents. This too is laid down in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: the methods, measurement procedures and measurement parameters have been tested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and recognised by the Paris Climate Conference. The countries that have signed the Convention also jointly defined further measurement methods that influence the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
TÜV NORD CERT GmbH is registered in Switzerland as a validator and verifier.
The Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) is an international climate protection standard against which projects are measured on a voluntary basis, leading to issue of emission credits. If the rules and requirements of the standard are met, a project can be registered in the VCS program and receive carbon credits accordingly. End users buy these so-called VCUs (Verified Carbon Units) and then retire them to compensate for emissions. The issuance and retirement of VCUs is publicly accounted for by the managing organization Verra.
Learn more about the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and how it facilitates carbon credit issuance, here
The Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard (CCB) has been administered by Verra since the end of 2014. It deals with land management projects – including those that generate GHGs from deforestation and the avoidance of degradation of forests and other ecosystems. It can be used to determine whether such a project offers demonstrable benefit for climate protection, biodiversity – and local communities. For a CCB-certified project must always include the strong involvement of communities and stakeholders.
To learn more about the Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard and its requirements, click here.
The Certified Carbon Standard was introduced at the end of 2016. Committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, this standard is a carbon certification program that facilitates and guarantees the registration of climate change mitigation programs or projects (CCMPs). The standard is voluntary and is used to register and certify the removal of greenhouse gases and GHG reductions achieved through climate protection measures. The carbon credits are issued by Cercarbono and traded in conjunction with other project-specific carbon credits.
The A6.4 mechanism replaces the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol in order to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and encourage sustainable development. The projects must be registered with the supervisory authority and approved by the country in which they are to be carried out – the so-called host country. The A6.4 mechanism enables meaningful climate protection projects in the host country and allows the investing country to generate carbon credits. These can be used to achieve Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
The International Carbon Registry (ICR) was founded in Reykjavik in 2020 and has cooperated with validation and verification bodies worldwide from the very beginning. The ICR is both a carbon registry and a far-reaching emissions programme. Projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can register on the platform. In addition, ICR Carbon Credits (ICC) can be generated for these projects. Reduction of emissions, as well as additionality and other criteria, are validated and verified for all projects.
Registration of the projects as well as validation and verification of the emission reductions are carried out transparently in accordance with the internationally recognized requirements of international standard ISO14064-2 and the special requirements of the ICR program.
To learn more about ICR Carbon Credits (ICC) and how the ICR supports transparent emission reduction verification, click here.
Contacts
Function
Head of JI/CDM Certification Program
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Deputy head of JI/CDM Certification Program
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2. Deputy head of JI/CDM Certification Program
(Forest Carbon Projects, WaldKlimastandard)
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Acquisition/Proposal requests
Name
Mr. Winter Stefan
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Mrs. Anna Kröger
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Mrs. Alexandra Nuske
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Phonenumber / E-Mail
Phone: +492018252392
E-Mail: swinter@tuev-nord.de
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Phone: +491608885470
E-Mail: ankroeger@tuev-nord.de
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Phone: +4951199862631
E-Mail: anuske@tuev-nord.de
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E-Mail: operations.carbon@tuev-nord.de
Our Know-How For Your Success
TÜV NORD CERT is an established and reliable partner for inspection and certification services. Our experts and auditors have extensive knowledge based on experience and are usually permanently employed by TÜV NORD. This guarantees independence and neutrality and enables us to guarantee continuity in the support of our customers. The benefits for you are clear: our auditors accompany and support the development of your company and give you objective feedback.