What is certification?
Certification is defined in 3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 61 as follows:
Certification is the written assurance by the designated operational entity that, during a specified time period, a project activity achieved the reductions in anthropogenic emissions by sources of greenhouse gases as verified (3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 61).
The rules relating to certification of CDM project activities apply also to Programmes of Activities (PoA) and CDM Programme Activities (CPAs) within a PoA:
The procedures for verification, certification and request for issuance of certified emission reductions (CERs) as referred to in paragraphs 62, 63 and 64 of Decision 3/CMP.1 and the procedures for review of requests for issuance of CERs as contained in Annex IV to Decision 4/CMP.1 and subsequent related decisions of the Executive Board shall apply unless modified through the provisions below (EB 32, Annex 39, paragraph 18).
Certification is essentially the formal written confirmation by an independent auditor (being the designated operational entity) that the emission reductions which are set out in the verification report were actually achieved. The key elements of certification are:
- that it is a written assurance;
- confirming that a PoA and each CPA achieved reductions in greenhouse gas emissions during a specific period (usually the verification period preceding certification); and
- performed by a DOE.
The certification report is considered to constitute a request for issuance of certified emission reductions (CERs):
The certification report shall constitute a request for issuance to the Executive Board of CERs equal to the verified amount of reductions of anthropogenic emissions by sources of greenhouse gases (3/CMP.1, Annex, paragraph 64).