Submit a Protocol Concept
The Reserve welcomes protocol concept suggestions from interested stakeholders at any time. The concepts can be submitted via the form below, which is designed to address questions that the Reserve will explore when determining a concept’s potential for standardized protocol development under the Reserve program. Before submitting a concept form, please review the information below concerning the concept review process, important criteria considered by staff for protocol development, and the Reserve’s summary of previously submitted concepts. In addition, submitters of new project concepts are encouraged to review the Reserve’s existing protocols to better understand the general topics that must be covered and the requirements that must be met by all protocols.
Project Concept Review Process
The timeline for scoping new project concepts varies depending on the project type and available information.
- Screening and research: Staff conducts brief internal reviews of the concept and supporting documentation before meeting as a team to discuss the project type. If there is high potential for protocol development then staff will conduct further internal research.
- Scoping: Once the internal screening process is complete, for protocol concepts with high potential for a standardized protocol, the Reserve will make a determination on the next appropriate steps, which may be to explore the concept more fully through the development of an issue paper (Section 4.2.2 of the Reserve Program Manual) or to hold a scoping meeting (Section 4.2.2) to engage stakeholders in further evaluating what types of activities should be targets for protocol development.
- Protocol development: Following the scoping meeting, there may be a protocol kickoff meeting which initiates the protocol development process. From that point forward, the process may take 6 to 12 months, or more, depending on the project type.
For more information on the protocol development process, please see the Reserve Program Manual.
Criteria for Protocol Development
The Reserve takes into consideration a number of issues when assessing a concept for protocol development. Although a prospective concept submittal does not necessarily need to fully satisfy all of these criteria, it should align with most of them. Assessment criteria for new project concepts include the following.
Whether GHG Reductions are Direct or Indirect
Direct emission reductions are those that occur at sources (or sinks) that are directly owned or controlled by the project developer. All else equal, the Reserve will focus on project types that result in direct reductions. Direct emission reductions are generally easier to verify because the sites where they occur can be directly monitored. When emission reductions occur at sites or sources owned by the project developer, there is also less risk that an entity other than the project developer will claim ownership of the reductions. Thus, these projects are unlikely to be at risk for double counting or ownership issues.
Whether Standardized Additionality and Baseline Determinations are Possible
The Climate Action Reserve employs “standardized” approaches to carbon crediting. Standardized carbon crediting has two main elements:
- Determining the eligibility and additionality of projects using standard criteria, rather than project-specific assessments
- Quantifying GHG emission reductions using standard baseline assumptions, emission factors, and monitoring methods
For more information on standardized carbon crediting, please see Section 2.1.1 of the Reserve Program Manual. For some project types, it is difficult to credibly and accurately determine additionality and estimate baseline emissions on a standardized basis. In general, the Reserve will avoid developing protocols for these project types. Alternatively, the Reserve may incorporate project-specific methods or variables into existing protocols as appropriate or limit the scope of protocols to address only activities and conditions for which standardized approaches are feasible.
Whether GHG Reductions Occur Outside Proposed Caps on GHG Emissions
Since issuing carbon credits for reductions that occur at capped emission sources would result in double counting, the Reserve focuses on project types affecting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are unlikely to be regulated under a cap-and-trade program, emissions trading schemes, or other legally binding mandates.
Whether There is Significant Potential for Reducing GHG Emissions
Because it takes significant effort and resources to produce a standardized protocol, there should be large and geographically diverse potential for GHG reductions.
Whether Projects Would Have Positive or Negative Environmental and Social Impacts
All else equal, the Reserve will prioritize project types that create significant co-benefits for the neighboringecosystems and communities.Project types that may cause, or be associated with, significant negative social and environmental impacts will be avoided. Please see Section 2.4.6 of the Reserve Program Manual for further information on the Reserve’s policies on project co-benefits and harms.
Whether Well-Developed Quantification Methodologies Are Available to Serve as a Starting Point
Protocols are more easily developed where sound scientific methods already exist to quantify baseline and project emissions. Although the Reserve does not directly adopt methodologies developed by other organizations (all of its protocols are developed and finalized through public, transparent stakeholder processes), it will prioritize protocol development for which well-developed and vetted GHG quantification methods already exist.
Whether High Quality Data is Available for the Sector
High quality datasets are necessary to establish accurate quantification parameters, as well as to evaluate “business as usual” activities for the sector in which the project activity occurs. Setting performance thresholds and other standardized tests for additionality requires defensible data on the current state of the sector.
Contact:
Protocol development can require significant staff resources, availability, and funding. The Reserve will carefully consider opportunities to develop new protocols that adhere to the Reserve’s program principles. If you have shared your protocol concept with us, we appreciate your interest in working with us. Due to staff workloads, we may not be able to give status updates, but if or when the Reserve is ready to move forward with the protocol concept, you will be contacted.
If you have questions about protocol development, please contact the Reserve.