1UNFCCC

Roles and structure of Designated National Authorities (DNAs)

Fabiana Rodrigues, UNFCCC secretariat

Regional Workshop - Latin America and the Caribbean (31 August – 2 September)

Bogota, Colombia

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CONTENT

1. Role of the DNA

• LoA issuance

• Current requirements

• Withdrawal of LoA

2. Default values of fraction of non-renewable biomass

3. Automatic additionality on microscale CDM project activities

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The main task of the DNA

LoA issuance

• Assess potential CDM projects to determine whether they will assist the host country in achieving its sustainable development goals

and

• Provide a letter of approval to project participants in CDM projects.

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Current requirements

• Issuing LoAs for Projects Activities

• Issuing LoAs for PoAs

• Issuing LoAs for Bundled Projects Activities

• Issuing LoAs for CCS Projects

• DOE verification points

• Withdrawal of LoAs

• Signature on the LoA

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LoA for project activities

CDM Project Standard - Version 07.0

7.6. Approval and authorization (PA)78. Project participants shall obtain a letter of approval from the DNA of each Party involved in the proposed CDM project activity confirming that:• (a) The Party is a Party to the Kyoto Protocol;• (b) Participation in the proposed CDM project activity is voluntary;• (c) Project participants are authorized to participate in the proposed

CDM project activity.79. LoA shall also confirm that the proposed CDM project activity assists the host Party in achieving sustainable development.

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LoA for PoAs

CDM PS Version 07.012.9. Approval and authorization (PoA)

227. The coordinating/managing entity (CME) shall obtain a letter of approval from the DNA of

each Party for the PoA, confirming that:

• (a) Party to the Kyoto Protocol; and

• (b) Participation is voluntary.

229. The LoA shall confirm that the PoA assists achieving sustainable development.

230. CMEs shall obtain a letter of authorization by each host Party of its coordination of the

PoA.

231. Each PP shall be authorized to participate in the PoA by at least one Party involved in the

proposed PoA.

 232. CDM project participation is only recorded at the PoA level.

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LoA for PoAs cont…

CDM PS Version 07.0

13.10.3. Changes of coordinating/managing entity

300. If the CME of a registered CDM PoA changes after the registration of the PoA, the new CME shall: (a) Obtain a new letter of authorization from each host Party stating the change and confirming the authorization of coordination of the new coordinating/managing entity of the PoA;

 

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LoA for Bundled project Activities

Annex 21GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR BUNDLING (Version 02.0)16. The letter of approval by the host Party(ies) shall indicate that the Party is aware that the project activity(ies) taking place in its territory is part of the bundle.

Bundle

PA

PA

PA

PA

Bringing together of several small-scale CDM project activities, to form a single CDM project activity or portfolio without the loss of distinctive characteristics of each project activity

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LoA for CCS project activities

CDM PS Version 07.0

11.3. Host Party participation requirements for carbon dioxide capture and storage

projects

160. In addition to the approval and authorization set out section 7.6, PPs shall seek written

confirmation of the following from the DNA of the host Party:

(a) That the right to store carbon dioxide in, and gain access to, the proposed geological

storage site has been conferred to them;

(b) That the host Party agrees to the financial provision described in the PDD

(c) That the host Party accepts the allocation of liability as proposed in the PDD and the

transfer of liability (see section 11.9 below);

(d) Whether the host Party accepts the obligation to address a net reversal of storage in the

situation referred to in section “Addressing non-permanence in CCS project activities” of the

Project cycle procedure.

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DOEs are to verify that the LoA

CDM VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION STANDARD Version 07.0

7.6.2. Means of validation

40. The DOE shall determine whether each letter confirms that:

(a) The Party is a Party to the Kyoto Protocol;

(b) Participation is voluntary;

(c) In the case of the host Party, the proposed project activity contributes to the

sustainable development of the country;

(d) It refers to the precise proposed project activity title in the PDD being submitted

for registration.

41. The DOE shall determine whether the letter(s) of approval is unconditional with

respect to 39 (a) to (d) above.

42. The DOE shall determine whether the letter(s) of approval has been issued by the

respective Party’s DNA and is valid for the proposed project activity under validation.

43. If the DOE doubts the authenticity of the letter of approval, the DOE shall verify

with the DNA that the letter of approval is authentic.

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Signature on the LoA

Signature on the LoA has to be same as one of the signatures

submitted to the UNFCCC secretariat as sample of authorised

signatures for the LoA.

DNAs should update their representatives details, DNAs can have

one primary and two alternate representatives.

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DNAs that withdraw approval/authorization

Process for dealing with letters from DNAs that withdraw

approval/authorization (adopted at EB 76)

• (a) Provide guidance to DNAs of Parties as to the procedures that the

Board will follow in the absence of specific instructions from that DNA.• (b) Provide some clarity to stakeholders affected by withdrawals of

approval/authorization as to the process that will be followed by the

Board and secretariat;• (c) Ensure consistency of treatment for all project activities and

programmes of activities affected where the DNA does not specify

particular implications.

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Procedure says that letter withdrawing approval/authorization should…

• Be addressed to the Executive Board; • Be sent by the DNA (rather than another agency/ministry) to the

secretariat;• Identify the Affected project participants (namely, the project participant(s)

to which the Withdrawal Letter applies) • Identify the project activity(ies) or PoA to which the Withdrawal Letter

applies;• State the date of the original Letter of Approval;• Specify the Effective Date (NB MANDATORY);• Set out the implications of the withdrawal;• Include the reasons for the withdrawal;• Contain all other relevant information considered necessary by the DNA;• Be dated and duly signed or stamped;• If possible, be copied to all other project participant(s) currently

participating in the project activity or PoA.

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PoAs with more than one Host Party

Host Party B withdraws approval/authorization, only CPAs in Host Party B are

affected. As CERs are issued by Host Party, CDM registry/ITL can distinguish

CERs from CPAs in Host Party A from CERs from CPAs in Host Party B.

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2. Default values of fraction of non-

renewable biomass

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Default values of fraction of non-renewable biomass

The CDM Executive Board approved the approach to calculate the values of fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB) for:

• least developed countries (LDC)

• small island developing states (SIDs)

• 10 or less registered CDM project

When acceptance is received from DNAs, the default values can be

applied in small-scale CDM project activities and programme of

activities in the respective host countries.

DNAs are requested to submit a form to indicate their acceptance of the proposed default fNRB values, and send via email to secretariat@unfccc.int.

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3. Automatic additionality on microscale CDM project activities

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Guidelines for Demonstrating Additionality of Certain Small-Scale Project Activities

• Certain grid-connected renewable electricity generation

technologies are automatically considered as additional.

The positive list includes the following:

(installed capacity up to 15 MW):

I. Solar technologies;

II. Off-shore wind technologies;

III. Marine technologies;

IV. Building-integrated wind turbines (size up to 100 kW);

• Off-grid electricity generation technology

• Project activities solely composed of isolated units.

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Automatic additionality

• A DNA may propose specific micro-scale renewable energy

technologies to the EB to qualify them for automatic additionality

status.

• The process which the DNA must undertake is set out in the

Procedure for Submissions and Consideration of Microscale

Renewable Energy Technologies for Automatic Additionality.

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Microsale Project Activities

Project activities up to 5 MW that employ renewable energy as their primary technology are additional if any one of the conditions below is satisfied:

• LDCs/SIDs or in a special underdeveloped zone (SUZ);• off grid activity supplying energy to households/communities;• not connected to a national grid;• Recommended by the DNA and approved by the Board

(remain valid for three years from the date of approval)

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Special underdeveloped zones (SUZ)

“Geographic location is in a special underdeveloped zone (SUZ) of the host country”

a. Proportion of population with income of less than USD 2 per day is greater

than 50%; or

b. Gross National Income (GNI) in the country is less than USD 3,000 and the

population of the region is among the poorest 20% in the country as per

official policies.

• DNAs can submit their recommendation on SUZ to the Board for approval.

Photographer: Eiji Matsubara

Title: Cultivating the reforested parcel for pineapple production (agroforestry)

CDM Project: 2694: Reforestation of croplands and grasslands in low income communities of Paraguarí Department, Paraguay

Country: Paraguay

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Automatic additionality on microscale CDM project activities

DNAs from non-LDCs/non-SIDS

1. Proposing specific renewable energy technologies for automatic additionality; and

2. Recommending special underdeveloped zones.

DNAs from LDCs/SIDS

3. Promoting the use of the microscale and small-scale additionality guidelines among project developers in your country

All DNAs should provide input when calls for input are opened by the CDM Executive Board, your views are important!

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Submission of Standardized Baselines

The CMP, decided that Parties, project participants, as well as international industry organizations or admitted observer organizations through the DNA, may submit proposals for standardized baselines applicable to new or existing methodologies, for consideration by the Board.

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What was achieved in this session

1. Role of the DNA

• LoA issuance

• Current requirements

• Withdrawal of LoA

2. Default values of fraction of non-renewable biomass

3. Automatic additionality on microscale CDM project activities

4. Submission of Standardized Baselines

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Thank you for your attention

Direct communication with the Board at:

F-CDM-RtB-DNA form

email to the Moderator-DNA@unfccc.int