CDM Watch and Sandbag are organising a lunch debate on September 21, 2011 with members of the European Parliament. The focus of discussion will be whether contentious project types in the CDM undermine European climate goals.

The European Union (EU) can achieve half of its greenhouse gas emission reductions by using CDM offset credits. The EU has already shown leadership in increasing the quality of CDM’s offset credits and promoting sustainable development. For example, the EU banned the use of offsets from HFC-23 and adipic acid projects and limited the eligibility of offset projects registered after 2011 to projects from Least Developed Countries.

The European Commission is currently evaluating the integrity of the CDM which could potentially lead to further quality restrictions for CDM offset credits sold in the EU-ETS. Many industry associations still insist on the need for cheap credits and are concerned increases in quality may drive up prices. CDM Watch and Sandbag believe that several types of projects continue to undermine European climate goals and that further quality restrictions are feasible without causing undue burden in European economies (see our articles on coal, large hydroand additionality).

The event will be hosted by Bas Eickhout (MEP, Greens/EFA), Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (MEP, ALDE) and Richard Seeber (MEP, EPP).

Lunch Debate

Integrity of the CDM: How troubling project types undermine European climate goals

September 21, 2011, 13.00 to 15.00

European Parliament – location 1C47

Agenda

13:00    Sandwich lunch

13.10    Introduction by Richard Seeber, MEP

13.20    Overview of current EU offset quality restrictions

Thomas Bernheim, European Commission

13.50    Troubling projects in the CDM: coal and large hydro

Anja Kollmuss, CDM Watch

14.20    CDM/JI concerns and the EU ETS

Rob Elsworth, Sandbag

14.50    Conclusion by Bas Eickhout, MEP

Each presentation will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, MEP.