Abstract
Because of concerns with the growing threat of global climate change from increasing emissions of greenhouse gases, the United States and other countries are implementing, by themselves or in cooperation with one or more other nations, climate change projects. These projects will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequester carbon, and will also result in non-GHG benefits (i.e., environmental, economic, and social benefits). Monitoring, evaluating, reporting, and verifying (MERV) guidelines are needed for these projects to accurately determine their net GHG, and other, benefits. Implementation of MERV guidelines is also intended to: (1) increase the reliability of data for estimating GHG benefits; (2) provide real-time data so that mid-course corrections can be made; (3) introduce consistency and transparency across project types and reporters; and (4) enhance the credibility of the projects with stakeholders. In this paper, we review the issues involved in MERV activities. We identify several topics that future protocols and guidelines need to address, such as: (1) establishing a credible baseline; (2) accounting for impacts outside project boundaries through leakage; (3) net GHG reductions and other benefits; (4) precision of measurement; (5) MERV frequency and the persistence (sustainability) of savings, emissions reduction, and carbon sequestration; (6) reporting by multiple project participants; (7) verification of GHG reduction credits; (8) uncertainty and risk; (9) institutional capacity in conducting MERV; and (10) the cost of MERV.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrasko, K.: 1997, Forest Management for Greenhouse Gas Benefits: Resolving Monitoring Issues Across Project and National Boundaries, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 2(2- 3), 117–132.
Andrasko, K., Carter, L. and Van der Gaast, W.: 1996, Technical Issues in JI/AIJ Projects: A Survey and Potential Responses, a background paper prepared for the Critical Issues Working Group, for the UNEP AIJ Conference, San Jose, Costa Rica.
Dudek, D. and Weiner, J.: 1996, Joint Implementation, Transaction Costs, and Climate Change. OCDE/GD(96)173. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Paris, France.
EcoSecurities, Ltd.: 1997, SGS Forestry Carbon Offset Verification Services. Draft. SGS Forestry, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Embree, C. (Sid): 1994, Monitoring, Accounting, Verifying, and Reporting on Joint Implementation Activities: Preliminary Issues and Considerations, presented at the Workshop on Designing Joint Project Mechanisms to Promote Benefits for Developing Countries, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dec. 13- 15.
Heister, J.: 1996, Towards a Methodology for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Offsets from Joint Implementation Projects and Activities Implemented Jointly, draft working paper, Global Climate Change Unit, Global Environment Division, World Bank, Washington, D.C.
International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): 1995, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Workbook and Reporting Instructions. IPCC, Bracknell, United Kingdom.
MacDicken, K.: 1997, Project Specific Monitoring and Verification: State of the Art and Challenges, Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 2(2- 3), 191–202.
MacDicken, K.: 1996, A Guide to Monitoring Carbon Sequestration in Forestry and Agroforestry Projects. Working Paper 96/04 (revised 9/96). Forest Carbon Monitoring Program, Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development, Arlington, Virginia.
Meier, A. and Solomon, B.: 1995, The EPA's Protocols for Verifying Savings from Utility Energy-Conservation Programs, Energy: The International Journal 20(2), 105–115.
UNEP/WMO Information Unit on Climate Change: 1992, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. UNEP/WMO Information Unit on Climate Change, Geneva, Switzerland.
UNFCCC: 1997, Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change, FCCC/CP/1997/L.7/Add.1, Dec. 10, 1997.
UNFCCC: 1998, Non-paper on Principles, Modalities, Rules and Guidelines for an International Emissions Trading Regime, FCCC/SB/1998/MISC.1/Add.1/Rev.1.
U.S. Agency for International Development (AID): 1996, Strategies for Financing Energy Efficiency. Business Focus Series. U.S. Agency for International Development, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 1995a, Acid Rain CEMS Program Submission Instructions. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 1995b, Conservation and Verification Protocols, Version 2.0. EPA 430/B-95-012. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 1996, The User's Guide to the Conservation and Verification Protocols, Version 2.0. EPA 430/B-96-002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation (USIJI): 1996, Guidelines for a USIJI Project Proposal. U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation, Washington, D.C.
Vine, E. and Sathaye, J.: 1997, The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Verification of Climate Change Mitigation Projects: Discussion of Issues and Methodologies and Review of Existing Protocols and Guidelines. LBNL-40316. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California.
Watt, E., Sathaye, J., de Buen, O., Masera, O., Gelil, I., Ravindranath, N., Zhou, D., Li, J. and Intaraprvich, D.: 1995, The Institutional Needs of Joint Implementation Projects. LBL-36453. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California.
World Bank: 1994a, Greenhouse Gas Abatement Investment Project Monitoring & Evaluation Guidelines. World Bank, Washington, D.C.
World Bank: 1994b, Incorporating Social Assessment and Participation Into Biodiversity Conservation Projects. World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Vine, E., Sathaye, J. The Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Verification of Climate Change Projects. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change 4, 43–60 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009651316596
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009651316596