In August 2008, Mexico’s six Border States, California, the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, and the Climate Action Reserve signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” (MOU) agreeing to work cooperatively to develop quantification and verification protocols for GHG emission reduction projects in Mexico. The MOU calls on the Reserve to develop protocols that “would ensure the integrity of emission reductions from projects in Mexico designed to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants.”

Pursuant to this MOU, the Climate Action Reserve has adapted its Livestock Project Protocol for eligible GHG reduction projects in Mexico. This protocol provides a standardized approach for quantifying and monitoring the GHG reductions from livestock methane destruction projects within the Mexican states. The protocol defines what types of projects are eligible to receive credits, describes how to quantify emission reductions, and describes how to monitor and verify projects so that project emission reductions can be verified by the Reserve.

As a result of this adaptation and development process, the Reserve has produced livestock project reporting and verification protocols applicable to projects throughout Mexico. The protocols were adopted by the Reserve Board on July 1, 2009 and the drafts are available below.

• Livestock Project Reporting Protocol – Mexico Version 1.0 For Board Approval
• Livestock Project Reporting Protocol – Mexico Version 1.0 For Board Approval (Spanish)
• Livestock Project Verification Protocol – Mexico Version 1.0 For Board Approval
• Livestock Project Verification Protocol – Mexico Version 1.0 For Board Approval (Spanish)
• Summary of Changes from U.S. Version 2.1
• Summary of Changes from U.S. Version 2.1 (Spanish)

Adaptation Process

The protocol adaptation process has involved relevant sector-specific stakeholders in Mexico who have addressed issues such as:

• Regulatory requirements for livestock operations in Mexico
• Identifying common practices that affect methane emissions
• Adapting equations and emission factors for GHG emissions in Mexico
• Adjusting project monitoring and verification activities

The process proceeded according to the following timeframe:

Staff research and draft revisions to protocols	January – March 2009
Workgroups review and comment on draft revisions	March – April 2009
Protocol drafts released for public comment	May 2009
Staff and workgroups incorporate public comments into final protocols	June 2009
Adoption by Reserve Board	July 2009

Drafts Released for Public Comment

Drafts of the Mexico version of the livestock project reporting protocol were available for public review and comment during May and June of 2009. Below are the draft project reporting protocol (in Spanish), draft project reporting protocol with changes from the original protocol tracked using the Track Changes function in Microsoft Word (in Spanish) and a summary of the changes made to the original protocol (in English) which were released for comment.

• Draft Livestock Project Reporting Protocol Version 1.0 Mexico (May 2009)
• Draft Livestock Protocol with Changes En Espanol (May 2009)

Public Comments to Draft livestock protocol – Mexico

CappyMex

DNV Mexico

Ecosecurities

The Reserve received 3 sets of public comments on the livestock protocol. The public comments received informed final revisions to the two protocols. The following document contains a summary of public comments and responses:
Staff responses to public comments
Staff responses to public comments (Spanish)

Stakeholder Workgroup

Throughout the protocol adaptation and development process, The Reserve worked with relevant stakeholders in Mexico with experience in the livestock sectors. Below are the organizations engaged in the Mexican Livestock Protocol adaptation process:

Workgroup Participants

• Cappy Mex
• Comisión de Cooperación Ecológica Fronteriza (COCEF)
• Comisión de Estudios del Sector Privado para el Desarrollo Sustentable (CESPEDES) (BCSD-México) – Programa GEI México
• Confederación Mexicana de Porcicultores (Gestión Ambiental)
• Confederación Mexicanos de Porcicultores
• Confederación Mexicanos de Porcicultores (Mérida, Yucatán)
• Consultor Independiente
• CYSTE
• Ecosecurities
• El Colegio de la Frontera Norte
• Estado de Chihuahua
• Estado de Coahuila
• Estado de Nuevo Leon
• Estado de Sonora
• Fideicomiso de Riesgo Compartido (FIRCO-SAGARPA)
• Grupo Porcicola Mexicano
• Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas, UNAM
• Instituto de Investigaciones Eléctricas (IIE)
• Instituto Nacional de Ecología (INE-SEMARNAT)
• Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP-SAGARPA)
• SEMARNAT – Programa GEI México
• SEMARNAT – Proyectos para Cambio Climático
• SEMARNAT – Regulación Ambiental Agropecuaria
• Secretaría de Energía (SENER)