What is additionality?
Additionality for afforestation and reforestation (A/R) projects is defined in 5/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 18 as follows:
An afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM is additional if the actual net greenhouse gas removals by sinks are increased above the sum of the changes in carbon stocks in the carbon pools within the project boundary that would have occurred in the absence of the registered CDM afforestation or reforestation project activity (5/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 18).
In other words, additionality is the requirement that the greenhouse gas removals after the implementation of the A/R project activity are greater than those that would have occurred in the baseline scenario (the most plausible alternative scenario to the implementation of the A/R project activity). This baseline scenario may be the business-as-usual case (that is, the continuation of current sequestration levels in the absence of the CDM project activity), or it may be some other scenario which involves a gradual increase in sequestration.
Additionality is a principal condition for the eligibility of a project under the CDM. The Kyoto Protocol provides that:
Emission reductions resulting from each project activity shall be certified by operational entities to be designated by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to this Protocol, on the basis of: ...
- Real, measurable and long-term benefits related to the mitigation of climate change; and
- Reductions in emissions that are additional to any that would occur in the absence of the certified project activity (Kyoto Protocol, Article 12(5)).
Additionality is a requirement for validation of A/R project activities, and will be confirmed by the DOE as part of the validation report (5/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 12(d)):
The DOE selected by project participants to validate a proposed afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM, being under a contractual arrangement with them, shall review the project design document and any supporting documentation to confirm that the following requirements have been met:...
- The proposed afforestation or reforestation project activity under the CDM is additional if the actual net greenhouse gas removals by sinks are increased above the sum of the changes in carbon stocks in the carbon pools within the project boundary that would have occurred in the absence of the registered CDM afforestation or reforestation project activity, in accordance with paragraphs 18-24 below (5/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 12(e)).
Paragraphs 18-24 set out the requirements relating to baselines, additionality, crediting periods and leakage.