Implementation of the monitoring plan
Once the project is operational, project participants are required to implement the monitoring plan:
Project participants shall implement the monitoring plan contained in the registered project design document (3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 56).
Implementation of the monitoring plan is a condition for verification, certification and issuance:
The implementation of the registered monitoring plan and its revisions, as applicable, shall be a condition for verification, certification and the issuance of CERs (3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 58).
Calculating emission reductions
The number of certified emission reductions (CERs) to be issued to the project is calculated based on the data obtained from the monitoring plan, applying the registered methodology, subtracting actual emissions and adjusting for leakage:
Subsequent to the monitoring and reporting of reductions in anthropogenic emissions, CERs resulting from a project activity during a specified time period are calculated, applying the registered methodology, by subtracting the actual anthropogenic emissions by sources from baseline emissions and adjusting for leakage (3/CMP.1 Annex, paragraph 59).
Phased approach to monitoring of multi-site projects
The Executive Board has been urged to accept a phased approach for monitoring purposes for multi-site project activities as practiced in other greenhouse gas and accreditation schemes, whereby the designated operational entity (DOE) could adopt a sampling method for assessing some project sites and based on the assessment results to conclude for other site visits and/or re-visits (EB 25, paragraph 132(b); EB 26, paragraph 126(e)).
Monitoring instruments
Specific uncertainty levels, methods and associated accuracy level of measurement instruments and calibration procedures to be used for various parameters and variables should be identified in the project design document (PDD), along with detailed quality assurance and quality control procedures. The standards recommended must either be national or international standards. The verification of the authenticity of the uncertainty levels and instruments are to be undertaken by the DOE during the verification stage (EB 23, paragraph 24).
A zero check cannot be considered as a substitute for calibration of the measurement instrument (EB 24, paragraph 37).